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
-
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:
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
Last week, he posted a picture of Harp straining under an oversized pack, while observing that its size did nothing to quell “diaper bag allegations.”
From Salon ● Sep. 16, 2026
The shift toward wealthier tourists has done little to quell anger from locals, who argue the problem is the number of tourists, not just the type.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
But the clarification did little to quell the outrage.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
At the table, Minya and Feral were faced off across the quell board, deep in a game.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
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 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
Strict conformity quells confusion and keeps everyone focused on the work.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 19, 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
Nvidia’s report quelled fears that growth in chip demand would cool in the coming months.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
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
However a well-worked try from Jess Breach, the sin-binning of France's replacement scrum-half Alexandra Chambon and a strong performance by England's replacements quelled the danger.
From BBC ● May 17, 2026
Mama’s low voice floated across the phone line and quickly quelled my shaking hand.
From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Getting that input could go a long way toward quelling any anxiety about new export policies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
But instead of quelling the speculation, the video fueled a new wave of unfounded theories.
From Barron's ● Apr. 2, 2026
Cipriani’s suit alleges Shell was desperate for help in quelling negative stories about him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 9, 2026
What begins as punishing a joke quickly becomes quelling dissent.
From Salon ● Nov. 6, 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
Definitions 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.
