quell

[kwel]

verb (used with object)

1. to suppress; put an end to; extinguish.

   The troops quelled the rebellion quickly.

   Synonyms: quench, conquer, defeat, overcome, overpower, quash, crush
   Antonyms: foster

2. to vanquish; subdue.

   Synonyms: quench, conquer, defeat, overcome, overpower, quash, crush
   Antonyms: foster

3. to quiet or allay (emotions, anxieties, etc.).

   The child's mother quelled his fears of the thunder.

   Synonyms: hush, compose, pacify, calm
   Antonyms: agitate

quell

/ kwɛl /

verb

1. to suppress or beat down (rebellion, disorder, etc); subdue

2. to overcome or allay

   to quell pain

   to quell grief

Other Word Forms

• quellable adjective
• queller noun
• unquellable adjective
• unquelled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quell¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English quellen, Old English cwellan “to kill”; akin to Old Norse kvelja “to torment,” German quälen “to vex”; kill ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of quell¹

Old English cwellan to kill; related to Old Saxon quellian, Old High German quellen, Old Norse kvelja to torment

Example Sentences

They were very clear on what their expectation was and what they wanted to accomplish, so that has quelled some of the nervousness.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Wall Street has been awaiting updates on the trajectory of artificial intelligence to either justify or quell enthusiasm in the space, Torres said in emailed commentary on Tuesday.

Read more on MarketWatch

This thinly veiled attack on American supporters of Israel sparked widespread outrage, and Mr. Roberts’s subsequent apology for his poor choice of words did little to quell it.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The 78-year-old tried to quell protests with a heavy hand and characterized the demonstrators as criminals, terrorists and traitors.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Her worries were quelled on Thursday when she returned to work for the first time in weeks, following the government's reopening, but she is already preparing for the prospect of another one come January.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• annihilate 
• conquer 
• crush 
• extinguish 
• overcome 
• put down 
• quench 
• silence 
• stamp out 
• stifle 
• subdue