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
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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
But Trump’s usual tactics haven’t quelled GOP dissent.
—
Zac Anderson, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
Talk of a bubble in artificial intelligence has not been quelled despite Nvidia delivering yet another blockbuster quarter in November.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 Nov. 2025
Immediately, fans were naturally wondering if his status for Indianapolis' Week 12 showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs was in question, but ESPN's Stephen Holder has quelled the noise for now.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2025
Conditions declined in 27 of the 72 countries assessed, with those in Kenya — where anti-corruption protests were quelled, in part, by a seven-hour internet shutdown — deteriorating the most.
—Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 16 Nov. 2025
On the flip side, a strong earnings season has quelled some concerns and caused a further rally on tech stocks .
—Tasmin Lockwood, CNBC, 16 Nov. 2025
But on Wednesday, Johnson’s fears were quelled.
—Charlotte Observer, 13 Nov. 2025
Several confrontations broke out and were quickly quelled by police.
—Sacbee.com, 11 Nov. 2025
Yet even that hasn’t quelled the lingering distrust between the left and Senate Democrats.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 10 Nov. 2025
Zac Anderson, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
Talk of a bubble in artificial intelligence has not been quelled despite Nvidia delivering yet another blockbuster quarter in November.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 Nov. 2025
Immediately, fans were naturally wondering if his status for Indianapolis' Week 12 showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs was in question, but ESPN's Stephen Holder has quelled the noise for now.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2025
Conditions declined in 27 of the 72 countries assessed, with those in Kenya — where anti-corruption protests were quelled, in part, by a seven-hour internet shutdown — deteriorating the most.
—Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 16 Nov. 2025
On the flip side, a strong earnings season has quelled some concerns and caused a further rally on tech stocks .
—Tasmin Lockwood, CNBC, 16 Nov. 2025
But on Wednesday, Johnson’s fears were quelled.
—Charlotte Observer, 13 Nov. 2025
Several confrontations broke out and were quickly quelled by police.
—Sacbee.com, 11 Nov. 2025
Yet even that hasn’t quelled the lingering distrust between the left and Senate Democrats.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quelled
Verb
-
The fresh evidence of how internal dissent was suppressed for the sake of diplomatic relationships exposes a broader crisis of impunity for crimes committed against journalists, and the failure of states to hold other states accountable.—
Scott Griffen,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
-
This may have resulted in cooling that had until now suppressed the sublimation of water ice to steam.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
The critics, producers hoped, might be subdued.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Musk’s reaction to Isaacman’s re-nomination was celebratory but subdued.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Hoosiers quieted the 107,000 strong crowd in State College, Pennsylvania.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The man twirled a weighted knife in his fingers and looked down with cold eyes that quieted the couple.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
And Johnson can’t erase the imagery of poor Cleveland Browns rookie defensive tackle Mason Graham, a top-5 pick, bursting through the B-gap at the snap only to be crushed by guard Jonah Jackson.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Hodges was trapped, his whole body getting crushed.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
High school students must store their devices with ringers silenced, and may not use them during instructional time.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
5 Nov. 2025
-
In an hour’s span, three trucks leaving the construction site silenced the conversation, growling loudly down Rockland Drive.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Perceptive politicians understand that a rising opposition force that aims to replace the entire system has to be co-opted, not simply repressed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
-
This Committee was initially created during the McCarthy Era, a dark time when the federal government repressed and persecuted American citizens for their political beliefs.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
The service lasted more than five hours, but the moment that stilled the crowd came when his widow, Erika, spoke of her husband’s killer in the language of absolution.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Quelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quelled. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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