Squelchiest

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Most soggy and squishy, producing a wet sucking sound when pressed or trodden upon
2. Describing the wettest and mushiest ground, mud or surface that gives off a noisy squelch
3. Having the greatest degree of a soft, sodden texture that makes a splashing, sucking noise

Etymology: "Squelchiest" is the superlative of "squelchy", so it describes the wettest, most sodden thing in a group: the muddiest field, the soggiest boots. The root "squelch" is a word whose sound does much of the work. It imitates the wet, sucking noise that a foot makes pulling out of deep mud, and the same sound-driven shape turns up in many English words for wet, messy movement. "Squelch" itself is built from that imitative base, and the suffix "-y" turns it into a descriptive adjective meaning full of or resembling that sodden state. Adding "-iest" to form the superlative follows the usual pattern for two-syllable adjectives ending in "-y", so "squelchiest" carries no further twist in its construction.

Synonyms: squishiest, squashiest, squidgiest, soggiest

Antonyms: driest, firmest