Synonyms

quell

American

[kwel] / kwɛl /

verb (used with object)

to suppress; put an end to; extinguish.

The troops quelled the rebellion quickly.

Synonyms:

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

Antonyms:

foster
to vanquish; subdue.

Synonyms:

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

Antonyms:

foster
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 British

/ kwɛl /

verb

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

to quell pain
to quell grief

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

quellable adjective
queller noun
unquellable adjective
unquelled adjective

Etymology

Origin of quell

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I crept into the empty bed fully dressed, clutching my recovered hair combs, and then tried to quell everything rising in my stomach.

From Literature

Announcements this past week that the U.S. would ease sanctions on Russia and contribute to the largest-ever emergency oil release—some 400 million barrels—have done little to quell prices.

From The Wall Street Journal

In men, those white blood cells are more likely to produce a pain-resolving molecule that can quickly quell the ache, according to a recent study in the journal Science Immunology.

From The Wall Street Journal

On Thursday, oil rose back above $100 a barrel as a planned release of strategic reserves by the International Energy Agency did little to quell fears about supply disruptions as the fighting continues.

From The Wall Street Journal

But while this statement is designed to quell the noise around Borthwick's position, the questions about the short-, medium- and long-term direction of travel still remain.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023