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
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Recent Examples of quell
Government officials have hastened to quell any panic.
—
Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 11 Feb. 2025
In my play-through as the Persian empire, surviving into the exploration age automatically quelled the uprisings.
—Yussef Cole, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2025
The state has scrambled to quell the labor dispute.
—Jay Root, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
Colloidal oatmeal helps quell any requisite inflammation, while tranexamic acid works to fade spots.
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quell
Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 11 Feb. 2025
In my play-through as the Persian empire, surviving into the exploration age automatically quelled the uprisings.
—Yussef Cole, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2025
The state has scrambled to quell the labor dispute.
—Jay Root, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
Colloidal oatmeal helps quell any requisite inflammation, while tranexamic acid works to fade spots.
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quell
Verb
-
Canada’s democracy has frayed and strained in the years since, but always held—Quebec’s independence movement was subdued by real concessions from the rest of the provinces, for instance.—
Bill McKibben,
The New Yorker,
7 Mar. 2025
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He was subdued after an officer fired a beanbag round, striking Hermanson and allowing police to arrest him.—
Clifford Ward,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In his 2023 address, President Joe Biden was repeatedly met with heckles and boos from some Republican lawmakers, leading then House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to shush them, according to CNN.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2025
-
Duke did things to Illinois on Saturday at Madison Square Garden, in a 110-67 eyeful that wasn’t as close as the final score, to shush talk of a weak ACC potentially costing Cooper and the fighting Flaggs a No. 1 seed.—
Joe Rexrode,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The answer is clear: Our city council clings to an outdated system that suppresses voter engagement.—
DP Opinion,
The Denver Post,
4 Mar. 2025
-
From algorithmic bias that suppresses Black creators to the unchecked harassment that drives them offline, the need for digital hubs designed with Black users in mind has never been more urgent.—
Jasmine Browley,
Essence,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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While Politkovskaya was ultimately silenced, her legacy lives on and her story serves as a reminder of the dangers that journalists face and the importance of protecting their right to report the news, without fear of death or reprisal.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2025
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Now, Homan’s administration wants to use the awesome powers of the federal law enforcement apparatus to intimidate and silence those who disagree with their policy agenda.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Ed’s monstrous behavior under the influence of cortisone shatters the veneer of middle-class gentility to reveal the fault lines repressed beneath it.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
26 Feb. 2025
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With the movie itself proving its might across three different categories, Morris’ absence begs the question: How? —Joey Nolfi 12 of 13 SNUB: Challengers score Time to compress and repress your rage, as the Academy pulled the aux cord out from one of the best original scores of 2024.—
Joey Nolfi,
EW.com,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Slotkin’s spoke from Wyandotte, Michigan, a working-class community south of Detroit, as Democrats struggle to settle on a unified message to combat Trump, which was on full display Tuesday night as Trump delivered the longest address to Congress by a president in U.S. history.—
Joey Cappelletti,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2025
-
Slotkin spoke from Wyandotte, Mich., a working-class community south of Detroit, as Democrats struggle to settle on a unified message to combat Trump, which was on full display Tuesday night as Trump delivered the longest address to Congress by a president in U.S. history.—
Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports,
arkansasonline.com,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The behind-the-scenes look opens with footage of a desperate emergency broadcast calling for help because Imperial ships were landing, filled with storm troopers intent on quashing any protesters or nascent rebels against the Empire who might be lurking about.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
Ars Technica,
5 Mar. 2025
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Kemp quashed the rebellion after his allies in the Legislature argued that Pathways needed more time to prove itself.—
Margaret Coker,
ProPublica,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
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While brands cite rising ingredient costs, sustainability efforts, and product shelf-life concerns, these explanations may not be enough to hush growing skepticism.—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
-
In that meeting, Trump and Macron embraced and shook hands for about 17 seconds and once again engaged in a handshake and hushed whispers that sparked public conversation.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
24 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Quell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quell. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.
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