quell

verb

ˈkwel How to pronounce quell (audio)
Definition of quellnext
1
as in to subdue
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force the National Guard was called in to help quell the late-night disturbances downtown

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to shush
to stop the noise or speech of the principal held up her hand to quell the students so they could hear the urgent announcement

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of quell The Chiefs perhaps could have quelled some of that if Reid had spoken in such detail sooner. — Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026 Shark’s CryoGlow not only targets fine lines but also zaps breakouts and offers soothing cryotherapy to quell under-eye puffiness. — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026 Its brutal and ongoing crackdown on protests has quelled a public revolt. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026 To try to quell the crisis, the government permitted the sale of lower-grade gasoline and diesel. — Ivan Nechepurenko, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for quell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quell
  1. subdue
  2. shush
  3. suppress
  4. silence
  5. repress
  6. settle
  7. quash
  8. hush
Verb
  • Two nurses helped subdue the actress, who was taken to the hospital for evaluation.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The interplay between the vocal harmonies phasing from side to side is clear, though the upper melody sounds subdued during the track's busier sections.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of subdue
Verb
  • They were repeatedly shushed instead as the Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3) fell to 13-10 in their marquee event after failing to keep pace with a USC offense that averaged nearly eight yards per play through the first three quarters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Oct. 2026
  • His interactions with Daemon (Matt Smith) last season, going so far as to shush him at one point, were a breath of fresh air.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of shush
Verb
  • Optional filters can be slotted in each module (when available) to suppress city lighting, adjust for solar imagery, and cater for different wavelengths.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
  • But Uthmeier contends an overly broad reading of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause has been twisted into a tool to suppress Christians and other believers.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of suppress
Verb
  • Jasper, in Chicago, understands the risk of silencing those hunger cues.
    — Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The event silenced critics who doubted the practicality of using ammonia as a zero-carbon fuel at sea.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of silence
Verb
  • Jeffrey Jarquín, 35, was taken directly from the deportation flight to Nicaragua’s notorious Modelo prison, where he had been held previously for participating in pro-democracy marches that were violently repressed by President Daniel Ortega.
    — Ismael López, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Gordon is determined to surface elements of self that society seeks to repress.
    — Chanel Miller, Time, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of repress
Verb
  • On the industry side, Serielizados Pro has settled into its identity as a boutique forum.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Composed of the Hernández brothers (Jorge, Hernán, Eduardo and Luis) and cousin Óscar Lara, Los Tigres Del Norte was founded in the late 1960s in the Sinaloan town of Rosa Morada and settled in San José.
    — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of settle
Verb
  • During the tenure of Viktor Orbán, news organizations in Hungary were largely brought to heel and critical reporting was quashed.
    — Dominique Soguel, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Oct. 2026
  • This new paper highlights a number of topics where scientists might best fill the vacuum created by the White House’s report-quashing actions.
    — Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of quash
Verb
  • The lounge is a real scene, especially during afternoon tea, when a perfectly coiffed crowd has hushed discussions about worldly matters.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The park has already taken some steps to hush their new attraction.
    — Lynette Rice, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of hush

Browse Nearby Words

queers
quell
quelled
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Cite this Entry

“Quell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quell. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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