quell
Americanverb
-
to suppress or beat down (rebellion, disorder, etc); subdue
-
to overcome or allay
to quell pain
to quell grief
Other Word Forms
- quellable adjective
- queller noun
- unquellable adjective
- unquelled adjective
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”; kill 1
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.
It’s harsh to discount the bravery of federales who took out Public Enemy No. 1, then quickly quelled retaliation External link by his lieutenants.
From Barron's
In time, and in attempts to quell neighborhood concerns, the globe’s design would shift to become a large, futuristic needle.
From Los Angeles Times
Iranian authorities are trying to quell them by warning students they will face legal consequences.
On Feb. 9, as the claims gained traction online, Lifetouch CEO Ken Murphy posted a “Message to Parents” to try to quell concerns.
It will likely quell fears that the momentum of the U.S. economy has slowed substantially.
From Barron's
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.
