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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of quell
Both ground crews and water-dropping aircraft were working to quell the flames.
—
Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 13 May 2026
In addition, more than 70 of his own MPs have told him to quit and several ministerial aides have resigned, with Starmer's 'make-or-break' speech yesterday failing to quell the growing rebellion.
—Katie Foley, CNBC, 12 May 2026
The plan did little to quell the controversy surrounding Russia’s participation.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 12 May 2026
Parent takeovers and similar direct parent involvement could help police quell the danger in other neighborhoods, said Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling to the Tribune.
—Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for quell
Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 13 May 2026
In addition, more than 70 of his own MPs have told him to quit and several ministerial aides have resigned, with Starmer's 'make-or-break' speech yesterday failing to quell the growing rebellion.
—Katie Foley, CNBC, 12 May 2026
The plan did little to quell the controversy surrounding Russia’s participation.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 12 May 2026
Parent takeovers and similar direct parent involvement could help police quell the danger in other neighborhoods, said Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling to the Tribune.
—Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for quell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quell
Verb
-
Sentiment has remained subdued ever since.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
-
The atmosphere at the Palace game was strangely subdued, to begin with, lacking the edge or jeopardy that would usually be associated at this stage of the season.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The Giants offense got shushed Wednesday night by Shohei Ohtani, and their hitters went down almost as quietly against right-hander Emmet Sheehan.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
My mother would shush him and change the subject.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Dramatic currents, once suppressed, here bloom unashamed.—
Russell Platt,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
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Keith arrests our thinking, and cons us into suppressing our critical faculties with the same kind of internalized surveillance that philosopher Michel Foucault broke down to describe a prison’s use of the panopticon in Discipline and Punish.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
Verb
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That, or the PGA of America dialed things up to silence the haters.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
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The commission hopes its report will silence those who doubted survivors' stories, Elkayam-Levy says.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Don’t repress your thoughts, but don’t react just to prove a point either.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
5 May 2026
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Even before the war began, hardship and inflation provoked nationwide protests that were brutally repressed.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Check the facts, ask one clarifying question, and let real information settle your nervous system.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2026
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In a social media era rife with mouthwatering food content, kids will no longer settle for a drab school meal.—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Industry groups, meanwhile, are quashing proposals for higher taxes or stricter regulation by exerting pressure on lawmakers and cozying up to power players in the worlds of philanthropy, medicine, and science.—
Lev Facher,
STAT,
12 May 2026
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The pursuit of knowledge can be quashed, but the public funds have to go somewhere.—
Janay Kingsberry,
The Atlantic,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Tima said the event opened up the eyes of many attendees about domestic violence, a conversation that is typically hushed in Caribbean households.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
16 May 2026
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Maggie saw couples pointing, whispering hushed opinions to each other.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Quell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quell. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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