Quell — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈkwel/

Meaning & Definition of Quell

Quell (verb)

  1. to thoroughly overwhelm and reduce to submission or passivity
  2. quiet, pacify

Quell (noun)

  1. slaughter
  2. the power of quelling

Quell (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, put down, quash, repress, silence, slap down, snuff (out), squash, squelch, subdue, suppress, sit on
    related: douse, 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, subjugate, vanquish
    near: abet, aid, assist, back, help, prop up, support, foment, incite, instigate, provoke, stir, whip (up), advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote

  2. to stop the noise or speech of

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

    similar: dumb, extinguish, hush, mute, quiet, quieten (chiefly British), settle, shush, shut up, silence, squelch, still
    near: agitate, stir

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Quell

The most common words with a similar meaning to Quell:

Chiefly British: quieten
clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, put down, quash, repress, silence, slap down, snuff (out), squash, squelch, subdue, suppress, dumb, extinguish, hush, mute, quiet, settle, shush, shut up, still, sit on

Related Words for Quell

douse, 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, subjugate, vanquish

Near Antonyms of Quell

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

Word Forms of Quell

Inflections: quelled, quelling, quells

Derived words: queller (noun)

Origin & 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

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Quell

What does "Quell" mean?

"Quell" means to thoroughly overwhelm and reduce to submission or passivity. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to thoroughly overwhelm and reduce to submission or passivity. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Quell"?

Other words for "Quell" include clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, put down, quash, repress, silence and slap down. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Quell" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Quell"?

There are 53 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Quell". Common alternatives include clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, put down, quash, repress, silence, slap down, snuff (out) and squash.

How do you use "Quell" in a sentence?

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".

Is "Quell" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Quell" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Quell"?

"Quell" is pronounced /ˈkwel/.

What is the origin of the word "Quell"?

"Quell" comes from 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. First known use: 14th century.

What is another word for "Quell" meaning "to put a stop to (something) by the use of force"?

When "Quell" (verb) means to put a stop to (something) by the use of force, synonyms include clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, put down, quash and repress.