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
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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
Zuckerberg also just announced new audio-only smart glasses, an apparent bid to quell privacy concerns.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
Those assurances have done little to quell international concern.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
The slight fall in oil prices has helped allay some energy-driven inflation concerns but not enough to quell expectations the Fed will hike rates.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
Unfortunately for me and Eliza, her befriending me meant being iced out by Mariel and Dagmara, so her entrance onto the team did nothing to quell my discomfort.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Speedman scans the perimeter as he considers his options and quickly quells any potential for this fictional L.A. spinoff.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 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 is a happy thing that time quells the longings of vengeance and hushes the promptings of rage and aversion.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
Paz quelled the unrest in June by declaring a state of emergency.
From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026
U.S. stocks rose as another drop in oil prices and tepid economic data quelled inflation concerns.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 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
Mama’s low voice floated across the phone line and quickly quelled my shaking hand.
From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Paz succeeded in quelling the unrest by declaring a state of emergency in June.
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
The shift away from equating AI agents with human workers has less to do with quelling human anxiety over layoffs and job replacement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026
Khmara's appointment has gone some way in quelling fears about the SBU's future effectiveness.
From BBC ● Jan. 6, 2026
A month after he first deployed the troops, and despite the protests quelling, they are still being used for law enforcement in and around L.A.
From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2025
And there was a serenity to her expression which I could not decide on, whether it was the face of someone simply a little tired or quelling a sadness.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
