squelchy

Squelchy is an informal English adjective used to describe something that is wet, soft, and yielding in a way that produces a wet, sucking, or squelching sound when moved or pressed. It often refers to the texture of mud, wet ground, or other damp substances, but can also be applied to foods or objects with a similar moist, pliant quality. The term derives from squelch, an onomatopoeic word that imitates the sound of something wet and compressible being pressed or moved.

Usage is predominantly colloquial and is commonly heard in British English, though it is understood in other varieties as well. Squelchy can convey both a sensory impression (sound and texture) and a slight sense of inconvenience or discomfort, as when walking on muddy terrain or dealing with damp footwear. Examples include: The path was squelchy after the rain; Her boots made a squelchy sound as she walked; The dessert had a squelchy, jelly-like texture.

Related terms include squishy, soggy, and mushy, but squelchy emphasizes a combination of moisture, softness, and an audible or tactile resistance. It is typically used in descriptive, informal contexts rather than formal writing, and is often employed to evoke a vivid sense of messy or damp conditions.