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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Recent Examples of quell
Sodium hyaluronate, a derivative of hyaluronic acid, is the star ingredient paired with glycerin and vitamin E to help skin retain moisture, minimize fine lines, and quell dryness.
—
Kiana Murden, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2025
Damper conditions quelled any threat of further fires during the race itself, and Verstappen quickly built up a two second advantage over Norris.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2025
Semiconductors, which typically come to the U.S. in finished products such as personal computers, are also under pressure due to fears that tariffs will quell demand for technology gadgets and electronics.
—Dan Mangan,kevin Breuninger,christina Wilkie,michele Luhn, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2025
Anti-Diversity Policies: The U.S. State Department is seeking to quell a diplomatic tempest roiling Europe after several American Embassies sent letters to foreign contractors instructing them to certify their compliance with Trump’s policies aimed at unraveling diversity programs.
—Victoria Kim, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quell
Kiana Murden, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2025
Damper conditions quelled any threat of further fires during the race itself, and Verstappen quickly built up a two second advantage over Norris.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2025
Semiconductors, which typically come to the U.S. in finished products such as personal computers, are also under pressure due to fears that tariffs will quell demand for technology gadgets and electronics.
—Dan Mangan,kevin Breuninger,christina Wilkie,michele Luhn, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2025
Anti-Diversity Policies: The U.S. State Department is seeking to quell a diplomatic tempest roiling Europe after several American Embassies sent letters to foreign contractors instructing them to certify their compliance with Trump’s policies aimed at unraveling diversity programs.
—Victoria Kim, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quell
Verb
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Check out these suggestions, each of which, if multiplied by others, can help subdue climate change: Choose airlines that offer carbon offset programs.—
Lea Lane,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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The end, at 7:35 a.m., Monday was subdued and pain-free.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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One day at the Scottish Open, a volunteer held up the quiet sign and shushed the crowd as Morikawa prepared to hit from the fairway.—
Brody Miller,
The Athletic,
6 Jan. 2025
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Fathers shushed babbling toddlers as their wives snuck out to change infants’ diapers.—
Carlos Nogueras Ramos,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But its assertions are characteristic of the Trump administration’s systemic denial of trans lives, and signal further movement by HHS toward policies that seek to suppress trans identities among young people.—
Samantha Riedel,
Them.,
1 May 2025
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The Empire started mining the planet for energy and suppressing the Ghormans, so the upstart rebels attack a transport ship full of supplies.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
1 May 2025
Verb
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In the past, survivors have been silenced or discouraged by a system that often sided with abusers.—
Ali Martin,
Christian Science Monitor,
29 Apr. 2025
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Trump, through his onslaught of executive orders, wants to see the adversaries silenced.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The level of violence used to repress street protesters put the focus on Security Minister Patricia Bullrich and her tactics.—
Agustino Fontevecchia,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
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The course of the show has been allowing these little bursts to come out, and then repressing and repressing.—
Lauren Coates,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
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For all the chaos and strife of the tariffs in the opening act of his second term, Trump’s U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade deal, which went into effect in 2020, and his negotiations with China during his first term indicate some ability not just to pick economic fights but to try to settle them.—
Jennifer M. Harris,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
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Thousands of European Jews, including Sheinbaum’s grandparents, settled in the capital’s historic center.—
Stephania Taladrid,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The deal aims to quash the primary source of contention, the appointment of bishops, which is a modern-day form of the Medieval Investiture controversy.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
24 Apr. 2025
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Conservatives swiftly lambasted Boasberg’s opinion and suggested the Department of Justice should quash it.—
David Catanese,
Miami Herald,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Switching between phone and laptop is smooth with multipoint Bluetooth, and ANC hushes office hum without hammering battery life.—
Shubham Yewale,
PC Magazine,
25 Apr. 2025
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The setting is hushed and sun-drenched, with floor-to-ceiling views of the lake and gardens.—
Rai Mincey,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Quell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quell. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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