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

But a tough opening to his tenure, which included two heavy defeats by Belgium and four-goal loss in Russia, quelled optimism.

From BBC

This has done little to quell public anger.

From BBC

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

Trump’s previous attempts to downplay the remarks didn’t help much quell the backlash from Puerto Ricans, who make up a massive voting bloc in swing states like Florida and Pennsylvania.

From Salon

Related Words

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