quell

1 of 2

verb

ˈkwel 

quelled; quelling; quells

transitive verb

1

: to thoroughly overwhelm and reduce to submission or passivity

quell a riot

2

: quiet, pacify

quell fears

queller noun

quell

2 of 2

noun

1

obsolete : slaughter

2

archaic : the power of quelling

Synonyms of quell

Verb

• subdue
• suppress
• repress
• quash
• crush

Examples of quell in a Sentence

Verb

the National Guard was called in to help quell the late-night disturbances downtown

the principal held up her hand to quell the students so they could hear the urgent announcement

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The council and planning commission discussed establishing standards for massing for multi-family housing and determining the maximum height of buildings adjacent to single-family homes to quell residents’ concerns about privacy and building bulk. —Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2026

An ambiguous social media post Gabbard made on the matter did little to quell questions about whether the country’s top intelligence chief was not in line with the White House on the Iran threat. —Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 5 Apr. 2026

At a congressional hearing, a combative Bondi tried to quell the Epstein files controversy. —ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026

The hearing At a congressional hearing, a combative Bondi tried to quell the Epstein files controversy. —Jennifer Peltz, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to kill, quell, from Old English cwellan to kill; akin to Old High German quellen to torture, kill, quāla torment, Lithuanian gelti to hurt

Noun

Middle English, from quellen to kill

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for quell

• bel
• belle
• cel
• cell
• dell
• dwell
• el
• ell
• fel
• fell
• gel
• gell

Kids Definition

quell

verb

ˈkwel

1

: to put down by force

quell a riot

2

: quiet entry 3

quell fears

queller noun