QUELL Synonyms: 77 Similar and Opposite Words

quell

verb

ˈkwel

Definition of quell

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stir
agitate

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of quell District 65 officials hoped the leadership change could further quell anxieties over the $10-15 million budget reductions needed to make up its current deficit. — Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026 Here’s how to get your mismatched food containers organized and quell the cabinet chaos. — Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 16 Aug. 2026 An 8-5 record in year one did little to quell those grumblings, and the recruiting was stagnating behind other SEC rivals like Alabama and LSU. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile, Bigelow rallied Sacramento citizens to arms to quell the disturbance. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for quell

Recent Examples of Synonyms for quell

Verb

The drones rip through the hallways scanning for a threat before disorienting a suspect using flashing lights and subduing them using pepper balls or by ramming into their body, the company says.

— Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
The event reveals the cooperative hunting strategies of orcas, where multiple individuals work together to isolate and subdue large prey.

— Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of subdue

Verb

His interactions with Daemon (Matt Smith) last season, going so far as to shush him at one point, were a breath of fresh air.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
As the moment unfolded, Savannah shushed the future king and even briefly placed her hand over his mouth in an effort to keep him composed.

— Staff Author, InStyle, 13 June 2026

Definition of shush

Verb

That combination, just like QIH, suppressed neuronal firing and stripped out a comparable share of synapses, but the mice came out of it with impaired fear memory.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 22 Aug. 2026
Factors that put people at a higher risk of severe infection include being older than 60, diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease and being on immune system suppressing medication.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of suppress

Verb

Any talk of loaning the former Leicester City youngster out has been long since silenced by the speed of his development.

— James Pearce, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Prosecutors caught the elder Spitze helping his son contact four minor victims to try silencing them with gifts or orders to destroy evidence.

— Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of silence

Verb

And Washington’s campaign against terrorism encouraged its allies to embrace intrusive forms of surveillance and repress potential opposition in the name of security.

— MARC LYNCH, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
The chart surge comes after Bring Me the Horizon’s early catalog was recently repressed and reissued on vinyl as part of the band’s anniversary celebration surrounding two decades of Count Your Blessings.

— Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of repress

Verb

The descendants of Vikings who settled Iceland have been living off the sea for centuries, and fishing remains part of the country's cultural identity.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
After a brief stint at a boarding school in Kent, Audrey Hepburn returned to the Netherlands in 1939 and, together with her mother, settled in Arnhem and then in Velp, with her grandfather.

— Daria Egidi, Vanity Fair, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of settle

Verb

Critics, human rights groups and multiple Western nations – including the United States – say the crackdown has quashed dissent and ended Hong Kong’s unique freedoms.

— Chris Lau, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
The ruling upheld the January district court decision that first quashed the subpoenas.

— Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of quash

Browse Nearby Words

queers

quell

quelled

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Quell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quell. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of quell

verb

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