Isoliquiritin has anti-tumor effects in a variety of cancers. circ_0023028 has been confirmed to enhance laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma progression. However, whether isoliquiritin affects laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma progression by regulating circ_0023028 is unknown. TU177 cells were divided into 8 groups; control group, isoliquiritin 25 μmol/l group, isoliquiritin 50 μmol/l group, isoliquiritin 100 μmol/l group, si-NC group, si-circ_0023028 group, isoliquiritin+plasmid cloning deoxyribonucleic acid group and isoliquiritin+plasmid cloning deoxyribonucleic acid-circ_0023028 group. Cell functions were examined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, transwell assay and wound healing assay. circ_0023028 expression was examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and cleaved caspase-3 level was evaluated using Western blot. circ_0023028 expression was higher in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma tissue. Isoliquiritin increased cell inhibition rate, apoptosis rate and cleaved caspase-3 level, while reduced scratch healing rate, colony cell number, migrated cell number, and circ_0023028 expression in TU177 cells. Silencing of circ_0023028 enhanced cell inhibition rate, apoptosis rate and cleaved caspase-3 level, while suppressed scratch healing rate, colony cell number and migrated cell number in TU177 cells. Besides, overexpression of circ_0023028 reversed the effect of isoliquiritin on laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration. Isoliquiritin inhibited laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cell growth and migration via reducing circ_0023028 expression.