quell
Americanverb (used with object)
-
quells,
present (3rd person singular)
-
quelled,
past participle, past
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quelling
present participle
verb
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to suppress or beat down (rebellion, disorder, etc); subdue
-
to overcome or allay
to quell pain
to quell grief
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
quellsimple
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quellssimple
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have quelledperfect
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has quelledperfect
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am quellingprogressive
-
are quellingprogressive
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is quellingprogressive
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have been quellingperfect progressive
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has been quellingperfect progressive
Past
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quelledsimple
-
had quelledperfect
-
was quellingprogressive
-
were quellingprogressive
-
had been quellingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of quell
First recorded before 900; Middle English quellen, Old English cwellan “to kill”; akin to Old Norse kvelja “to torment,” German quälen “to vex”; cf. kill 1
Explanation
Meaning to suppress or overcome, quell is what you have to do with nerves before a big test and fears before going skydiving. When it first came into existence, the verb quell actually meant “to murder.” That's a bit more serious than our modern definition, but you can use that old definition to help you imagine offing your worries or putting a permanent end to criticism. These days quell is often used to mean "pacify," as in the police quelling an angry mob or a mom quelling a kid's temper tantrum.
Vocabulary lists containing quell
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
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Essential Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students, List 2
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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 7–11
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Onlookers leapt to the teen’s defense, and it took 75 officers to quell the disturbance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
Some investors viewed Warren’s decision as a move to quell debates about who is really in charge at Berkshire.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Wednesday the government would increase its petrol subsidies for the fishing trade to the maximum authorised level allowed under EU rules, but the measure did nothing to quell anger.
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
“I had to quell those desires for homeownership as I continue to see the price of everything grow exponentially,” she said.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026
The queen was vulnerable on the quell board with no pawns to protect her.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
Just wearing the wrong clothes or standing on the wrong block could lead to problems with the police, according to Padilla, whose group quells gang violence through diplomacy and social work.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 13, 2024
This interchange is how the brain quells, for instance, the knee-jerk use of rude language with the understanding that such responses can cause offense.
From Scientific American ● May 26, 2023
“There’s no such thing as a dumb question if it’s something that quells your anxiety, brings clarity, or helps you make an informed decision,” Tryk says.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 24, 2023
There is a history of federal courts finding that jurors’ names are public record, and reasoning that such openness quells potential public suspicions about the selection process.
From Washington Times ● Mar. 23, 2023
It blankets and quells me, and I regain my steady voice.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
Microsoft posted a record $450 billion one-day surge in market value after its earnings quelled concerns that investments on data centers, chips and more would outpace the company’s ability to generate cash.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
The company’s stock surged 16% after its earnings quelled concerns that investments on data centers, chips and more would outpace the company’s ability to generate cash.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
It quelled pressure from some of his unionist rivals and, as a political strategy to buy time, it paid off.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
A dominant 4-0 win over Leeds quelled talk of Mikel Arteta's men wilting under the pressure of being title favourites, while Manchester City and Aston Villa dropped crucial points on Sunday.
From Barron's ● Feb. 1, 2026
There was a ripple of laughter, instantly quelled by the look Snape gave the class.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
Getting that input could go a long way toward quelling any anxiety about new export policies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
Cipriani’s suit alleges Shell was desperate for help in quelling negative stories about him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 9, 2026
It is alleged that in his role, the man led a group tasked with quelling demonstrations in the suburbs of Damascus.
From BBC ● Mar. 9, 2026
Central Asian countries can lower unemployment and poverty rates, quelling potential unrest among their swelling young populations.
From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2025
Well, I thought, if I have not asked, it is because I have not dared; there is a look about you that is quelling, and your manner forbids such talk.
From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
