quell

verb \ ˈkwel \

Updated on: 5 Dec 2017

Definition of quell

transitive verb

1 : to thoroughly overwhelm and reduce to submission or passivity

quell a riot

2 : quiet, pacify

quell fears

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queller

noun

See quell defined for English-language learners

See quell defined for kids

Examples of quell in a Sentence

the National Guard was called in to help quell the late-night disturbances downtown
the principal held up her hand to quell the students so they could hear the urgent announcement

Recent Examples of quell from the Web

Kim has tried to quell the demand for outside information by opening his father's archive of foreign films -- most of which were produced in the former Soviet Union or other socialist nations, Thae said.

— zachary cohen, CNN, "North Korea defector says information more dangerous than US threats," 2 Nov. 2017
Jones said that the demolition of 13,000 empty dwellings has helped quell fires and unrest in the area.

— perry a. farrell, Detroit Free Press, "Angels Night campaign comes to an end in Detroit as fires decrease for 3rd straight year," 1 Nov. 2017
Bournemouth's next game comes as the late kick off on Saturday, October 27 as Chelsea travel to Dean Court, with the Blues' boss Antonio Conte attempting to quell the cries for his own sacking.

— SI.com, "Eddie Howe Has Revealed He Is Planning for 'the Next 20 Years' at Bournemouth," 27 Oct. 2017
Before the week was out, President Johnson decided that to quell America's fears, a high level commission to investigate the assassination was necessary.

— bob schieffer, CBS News, "The assassination of JFK: As it happened," 26 Oct. 2017
Even before Sanders dropped out, the Women's Convention organizers, who led the women's marches against President Donald Trump's inauguration, tried to quell the outrage.

— laignee barron, Time, "Bernie Sanders Skips the Women's Convention Amid Outrage and Heads to Puerto Rico Instead," 19 Oct. 2017
Pinterest Photos of the devastation showed homes engulfed in flames and relief teams working to quell the fires.

— char adams, PEOPLE.com, "Most Shocking Photos of the California Wildfires That Have Killed at Least 10 and Injured Dozens," 10 Oct. 2017
With options to quell an increasingly bitter dispute fast running out, events are coming to a head.

— maria tadeo, Bloomberg.com, "Protesters Head to the Streets in Bid to End Catalonia Crisis," 7 Oct. 2017
Together, the combined firepower of the troops managed to quell the violence by July 29.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "Understanding Detroit’s 1967 Upheaval 50 Years Later," 26 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'quell.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of quell

Middle English, to kill, quell, from Old English cwellan to kill; akin to Old High German quellen to torture, kill, quāla torment, Lithuanian gelti to hurt

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First Known Use: 13th century

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quell Synonyms

Synonyms

clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, put down, quash, repress, silence, slap down, snuff (out), squash, squelch, subdue, suppress, sit on

Related Words

douse (also dowse), extinguish, put out, quench; smother, stifle, strangle, throttle; annihilate, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, nuke, rub out, ruin, smash, waste, wreck; exterminate, obliterate, wipe out; conquer, dominate, overcome, overpower, overwhelm, subdue, subjugate, vanquish

Near Antonyms

abet, aid, assist, back, help, prop up, support; foment, incite, instigate, provoke, stir, whip (up); advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote

quell

noun

Definition of quell

1 obsolete : slaughter

2 archaic : the power of quelling

Recent Examples of quell from the Web

After Wesley and Joesley Batista, sons of patriarch Jose Batista Sobrinho, were jailed, Tomazoni has emerged as a face of quiet amid the storm, helping quell investor concerns about the future of one of Brazil’s largest companies.

— gerson freitas jr, Bloomberg.com, "Billionaire Meat Empire’s Rising Star Is An Outsider," 7 Oct. 2017