1
as in suppresses
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 quiets
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 quells
While the presumption was always that Messi would renew with the Herons, the news quells any lingering anxiety.
—
Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Twenty years later, an adult Guinevere is building her ghostwriting career when her estranged artist brother announces an installation titled Mother, which quells disturbing revelations in Guinevere.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Twenty years later, an adult Guinevere is building her ghostwriting career when her estranged artist brother announces an installation titled Mother, which quells disturbing revelations in Guinevere.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quells
Verb
-
When people without schizophrenia speak or prepare to speak, the brain region that plans movements suppresses signals in the auditory cortex.—
Hannah Seo,
Scientific American,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The experimental once-weekly drug, eloralintide, belongs to the class of drugs that mimic the pancreatic hormone amylin which slows digestion and suppresses hunger.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
When that kind of listening behavior scales up across an entire population, and audiences are spread thin, the cultural conversation quiets.—
Jonathan Garrett,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
-
His replacement stands at the front of the room and quiets the audience before kicking off another presentation.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
For those who are more into curves than angles, the Bialetti Moon takes all the functional elements of the moka stovetop espresso maker and subdues them with a rounded stainless steel silhouette.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That timing hasn’t been lost on the festival’s critics, who say the high-profile American comics are lending legitimacy to a government that represses dissent, jails activists and restricts free speech.—
Liam Reilly,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
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But outside of the ring, Christy hides and represses her lesbianism and winds up marrying her trainer Jim Martin (Ben Foster), who manipulates and physically abuses her.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Someone on her team silences the chatter like a classroom teacher and urges everyone to search.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Strong, steady performance silences speculation better than any defense.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Users who prefer the safety net offer can bet up to $1,000 on any market and bet a bonus refund if their bet settles as a loss.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Wilmington, North Carolina During the fall months, Wilmington settles into its natural coastal rhythm.—
Gabi De la Rosa,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The top itself is an eight-layer cloth construction that satisfyingly hushes the cabin when raised.—
Brett Berk,
Robb Report,
3 Sep. 2025
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Autumn hushes the Codrii forest, where mushrooms push through damp soil and the air smells of woodsmoke and moss.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Robinson is the favorite to start, which would mean Towns sliding over to power forward, which mutes some of his offensive superpowers.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The host mutes everyone upon entry.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Quells.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quells. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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