QUELLED Synonyms: 77 Similar and Opposite Words

quelled

verb

past tense of quell

as in suppressed

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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as in shushed

to stop the noise or speech of the principal held up her hand to quell the students so they could hear the urgent announcement

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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 quelled Its brutal and ongoing crackdown on protests has quelled a public revolt. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026 Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever may have had their WNBA championship dreams quelled Thursday, but the star’s Nike Caitlin 1 signature sneaker story is just getting underway. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2026 At the very least, a loss would have quelled any desire to inflict further consequences on Michigan. — Austin Meek, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 There were angels, of course, and superheroes — men and women who gave or endangered their lives to aid and/or rescue others and those who quelled the natural instinct to panic and managed to simply survive. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026 Indeed, economic grievances prompted days of nationwide demonstrations in January – quelled only when security forces killed at least 7,000 people, and perhaps thousands more. — Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2026 Bradman was the top run scorer for Australia but had only one century in the series, suggesting his threat had been quelled. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026 Reading it immediately quells, or at least quelled my own, paranoia at being alone in the middle of the forest—nobody is getting got here, there’s a gate that only opens if the concierge approves of your face, voice, and name. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile, officials have quelled concerns about nearby nuclear power stations. — Tiago Ventura, Time, 30 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for quelled

Verb

Sorkin’s problem was that, in reality, at this point in Facebook’s history, the powerful CEO had pushed out all the Roger McNamees, having suppressed dissent within the company.

— Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2026
The rest of the network enacts the decision, as other genes are activated or suppressed farther downstream, but isn’t active in it.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of suppressed

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
As the moment unfolded, Savannah shushed the future king and even briefly placed her hand over his mouth in an effort to keep him composed.

— Staff Author, InStyle, 13 June 2026

Definition of shushed

Verb

Armed and hooded, the gang was waved in by Black and surprised, subdued, and handcuffed the other security guards.

— Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
The teenager was subdued by the school's principal and taken into custody, according to Polish news agency PAP.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of subdued

Verb

There was a lot of Honolulu Blue in the lower bowl — Lions fans don’t get to see their team in Charlotte very often — but they had been quieted by the end.

— Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026
Their raucous conversation quieted as the odd trio approached.

— Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of quieted

Verb

Here, background activities are limited, notifications are silenced, and blue light is lowered to reduce eye strain.

— Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 8 Oct. 2026
When the researchers silenced the somatostatin neurons, the mice stopped trying so hard to avoid the threatening odor in their midst.

— Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of silenced

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
Rooted in opposition to the oppression and discrimination of women in Iran, the movement also seeks freedom for all Iranians systemically repressed by the Islamic government.

— Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of repressed

Verb

Rebecca’s hands stilled, and the girl stared at her grandmother, wide-eyed.

— Rachel Yoder, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026
Both the Moody Mansion and the 1892 Bishop’s Palace are museums stilled in time and filled with the marks of late 19th-century splendor.

— Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 July 2026

Definition of stilled

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“Quelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quelled. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of quelled

verb

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