1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of quelled
Suspicion of a Kurdish insurgency, however, might not be so easily quelled, not only among Pahlavi’s supporters but across Iran’s political spectrum.
—
Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2026
Deadly childhood disease after deadly childhood disease quelled by vaccines.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 2 Mar. 2026
The filing also alleges that video shows Seitz crossed the street after the altercation had initially been quelled, and ran to confront Hernandez and Austin a second time.
—Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2026
The case helped fuel a revolt across Wall Street, mostly since quelled, by junior talent tired of 120-hour weeks.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 19 Feb. 2026
If Quebec’s French-Canadian separatist movement and various referenda were ultimately quelled by Canada recognizing that culturally and linguistically unique province as a nation within Canada, then Alberta is headed for a similar result, at best.
—Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
Haitian immigrants in limbo A federal court ruling to maintain the temporary legal status of Haitian immigrants has not quelled fears for thousands of people in the community.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
The real set-piece quiz With his third win in as many games, Michael Carrick’s excellent start to life has quickly quelled any lingering doubts over the dismissal of his predecessor, Ruben Amorim, last month.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
Brannon Martinsen complimented him with 16 points that included a couple of timely shots that quelled any momentum Harvard-Westlake was trying to build.
—Dan Lovi, Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2026
Deadly childhood disease after deadly childhood disease quelled by vaccines.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 2 Mar. 2026
The filing also alleges that video shows Seitz crossed the street after the altercation had initially been quelled, and ran to confront Hernandez and Austin a second time.
—Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2026
The case helped fuel a revolt across Wall Street, mostly since quelled, by junior talent tired of 120-hour weeks.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 19 Feb. 2026
If Quebec’s French-Canadian separatist movement and various referenda were ultimately quelled by Canada recognizing that culturally and linguistically unique province as a nation within Canada, then Alberta is headed for a similar result, at best.
—Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
Haitian immigrants in limbo A federal court ruling to maintain the temporary legal status of Haitian immigrants has not quelled fears for thousands of people in the community.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
The real set-piece quiz With his third win in as many games, Michael Carrick’s excellent start to life has quickly quelled any lingering doubts over the dismissal of his predecessor, Ruben Amorim, last month.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
Brannon Martinsen complimented him with 16 points that included a couple of timely shots that quelled any momentum Harvard-Westlake was trying to build.
—Dan Lovi, Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quelled
Verb
-
Across the country, crackdowns suppressed immigrants' health care visits.—
Kate Wells,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2026
-
When other forms of truth are suppressed, the joke must serve instead.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Some shushed the crowds, urging them to be silent and reverent.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Jena asked, for which she was shushed), that was spotted and strong enough to kill a man.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Diazsandi was subsequently subdued and taken into custody by the officers, police said.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The Knicks had just come off a 142-103 victory in Denver on Friday night, one night after the Nuggets had subdued the Lakers, 120-113.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
January’s 130,000 gain quieted the pessimists, proving that the labor market had found a floor.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
-
After a while, their entreaties quieted.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The regime had already crushed the movement in January, detaining and killing thousands.—
Farah N. Jan,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
-
With Puerto Rico also 2-0 and looking to maintain momentum after Darell Hernaiz crushed a 10th-inning, walk-off homer against Panama on Saturday, Rodríguez is set to live out a childhood dream in his own backyard.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Walz rejected the idea that whistleblowers were silenced, saying the state maintains strong legal protections for employees who report misconduct.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Environmental factors, developmental conditions in the womb, and epigenetics — the way genes are activated or silenced based on conditions — all shape an individual organism.—
Ryan Brennan
March 4,
Kansas City Star,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
During the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Kurds were marginalized and repressed and sometimes rebelled.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
And yet football nationalism could not be entirely repressed even there.—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Suddenly, the noise in their home stilled.—
Ryan Oehrli
Updated February 6,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Feb. 2026
-
After two years, the brutal war that started with Hamas' seizure of hostages and led to Israel's bombardment of Gaza was stilled.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Quelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quelled. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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