Synonyms of quelling

quelling

verb

present participle of quell

1

as in subduing

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

• subduing
• suppressing
• repressing
• crushing
• quashing
• extinguishing
• silencing
• stifling
• overcoming
• destroying
• squashing
• sitting on
• squelching
• demolishing
• cracking down (on)
• quenching
• clamping down (on)
• slapping down
• conquering
• throttling
• putting down
• strangling
• wrecking
• ruining
• dousing
• dominating
• obliterating
• snuffing (out)
• decimating
• exterminating
• smothering
• annihilating
• wasting
• vanquishing
• smashing
• devastating
• subjugating
• overwhelming
• wiping out
• putting out
• overpowering
• nuking
• desolating
• rubbing out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• assisting
• aiding
• helping
• supporting
• abetting
• backing
• stirring
• provoking
• inciting
• promoting
• encouraging
• fomenting
• furthering
• advancing
• whipping (up)
• instigating
• fostering
• cultivating
• propping up
• forwarding
• nurturing
• nourishing

2

as in shushing

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

• shushing
• quieting
• silencing
• muting
• hushing
• stilling
• settling
• extinguishing
• squelching
• dumbing
• quietening
• shutting up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stirring
• agitating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of quelling

The break with Callaway was the first sign that Good Good’s attempts at quelling the crisis were not going well after Clark’s statement on social media Wednesday night. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

As Matt Reeves is hard at work in Gotham City, James Gunn is quelling some overeager fans about the timeline of the Batman trilogy. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026

Aside from Spain’s progress in quelling the fires this week, there are still active fires in France to consider, since the particulate matter could continue drifting across large portions of its neighboring nation. — T. Michelle Murphy, Time, 29 July 2026

Other ubiquitous Chinese deities, such as the regal Jade Emperor, the faithful warrior Guan Yu, the wondrous savior Mazu, and the demon-quelling Zhong Kui, fill both the popular imagination and the stuff of Daoist ritual. — Michael Naparstek, The Conversation, 6 July 2026

The very system itself - schooling and parenting - now operates on quelling agency. — Mimosa Jones Tunney, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

The mosquitoes came out in droves at night, just before bed, quelling our ambitions of stargazing or watching for the northern lights. — John Bowe, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2026

Owens, who tried to reach third, was gunned down by left fielder Brendan Brock, quelling the early threat. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 7 June 2026

Also quelling demand is China’s pivot toward producing chemicals from raw materials like coal instead of oil, according to analysts. — Devika Krishna Kumar, Fortune, 6 June 2026