quell

[ kwel ]

verb (used with object)

1. to suppress; put an end to; extinguish:

   The troops quelled the rebellion quickly.

   Synonyms: quench, conquer, defeat, overcome, overpower, quash, crush

   Antonyms: foster

2. to vanquish; subdue.

   Synonyms: quench, conquer, defeat, overcome, overpower, quash, crush

   Antonyms: foster

3. to quiet or allay (emotions, anxieties, etc.):

   The child's mother quelled his fears of the thunder.

   Synonyms: hush, compose, pacify, calm

   Antonyms: agitate

quell

/ kwɛl /

verb

1. to suppress or beat down (rebellion, disorder, etc); subdue
2. to overcome or allay

   to quell pain

   to quell grief

Derived Forms

• ˈqueller, noun

Other Words From

• quella·ble adjective
• queller noun
• un·quella·ble adjective
• un·quelled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quell¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English quellen, Old English cwellan “to kill”; akin to Old Norse kvelja “to torment,” German quälen “to vex”; kill ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of quell¹

Old English cwellan to kill; related to Old Saxon quellian, Old High German quellen, Old Norse kvelja to torment

Example Sentences

This has done little to quell public anger.

From BBC

Like many settlers, Leiter grew up in the United States, where he joined Rabbi Meir Kahane’s Jewish Defense League, which was founded in the late 1960s initially to quell antisemitism but eventually grew into a radical organization calling for the violent expulsion of Palestinians from all of Israel.

From Slate

Trump has threatened to deploy the U.S. military to quell demonstrators, and if he follows through, that could result in a serious escalation of left-wing violence.

From Los Angeles Times

In Orange County, Registrar of Voters Bob Page has posted the various steps of ballot collection and counting on social media in an effort to quell concerns by shedding light on the process.

From Los Angeles Times

Maricopa County election officials withstood scalding attacks in 2020, a barrage of court cases and persistent criticism from the right — despite attempts from election officials of both parties to quell distrust and make the elections process more transparent.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• annihilate
• conquer
• crush
• extinguish
• overcome
• put down
• quench
• silence
• stamp out
• stifle
• subdue