Synonyms of quell

quell

verb

ˈkwel 

1

as in to subdue

to put a stop to (something) by the use of force

the National Guard was called in to help quell the late-night disturbances downtown

Synonyms & Similar Words

• subdue
• suppress
• repress
• quash
• crush
• stifle
• extinguish
• overcome
• destroy
• squelch
• silence
• sit on
• squash
• crack down (on)
• demolish
• quench
• snuff (out)
• clamp down (on)
• slap down
• put down
• douse
• throttle
• conquer
• strangle
• smother
• ruin
• dominate
• obliterate
• decimate
• exterminate
• overwhelm
• vanquish
• annihilate
• put out
• wreck
• wipe out
• subjugate
• desolate
• devastate
• overpower
• smash
• dowse
• waste
• nuke
• rub out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

2

as in to shush

to stop the noise or speech of

the principal held up her hand to quell the students so they could hear the urgent announcement

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shush
• silence
• settle
• hush
• mute
• extinguish
• quiet
• dumb
• still
• squelch
• quieten
• shut up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stir
• agitate

Examples of quell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Also, to quell the fears of purists, sources have added that the film will be a continuation of the existing series rather than a reboot. —Radhika Seth, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2024

Flaherty was removed from the game after the strikeout, but that didn’t quell the jawing, as Flaherty stood on the fringes of the dugout and continued to verbally spar with Machado throughout the bottom of the sixth. —Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2024

Between the lines: The court's move does not quell legal questions about the enforcement of EMLATA in the wake of the Dobbs decision. —Ivana Saric, Axios, 7 Oct. 2024

Friday’s jobs report, which showed the unemployment rate unexpectedly declined, quelled some concerns about a soft labor market. —Natalia Kniazhevich, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2024