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- Dictionaryquell/kwɛl/
verb
- 1. put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by the use of force: "extra police were called to quell the disturbance" Similar Opposite
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The meaning of QUELL is to thoroughly overwhelm and reduce to submission or passivity. How to use quell in a sentence.
to completely stop or end something: The police were called in to quell the riot. If you quell doubts, fears, etc., you calm them: He’s been unable to quell his wife’s suspicions.
to completely stop or end something: The police were called in to quell the riot. If you quell doubts, fears, etc., you calm them: He’s been unable to quell his wife’s suspicions.
quell something/somebody to stop something such as violent behaviour or protests. Extra police were called in to quell the disturbances. (figurative) She started to giggle, but Bob quelled her with a look.
If you quell an unpleasant feeling such as fear or anger, you stop yourself or other people from having that feeling.
Meaning to suppress or overcome, quell is what you have to do with nerves before a big test and fears before going skydiving. When it first came into existence, the verb quell actually meant “to murder.”
1. to suppress or beat down (rebellion, disorder, etc); subdue. 2. to overcome or allay: to quell pain; to quell grief. [Old English cwellan to kill; related to Old Saxon quellian, Old High German quellen, Old Norse kvelja to torment] ˈqueller n.
1. to suppress; put an end to; extinguish. The troops quelled the rebellion quickly. 2. to vanquish; subdue. 3. to quiet or allay (emotions, anxieties, etc.) The child's mother quelled his fears of the thunder. SYNONYMS 1, 2. crush, quash, overpower, overcome, defeat, conquer, quench.
Definitions of 'quell'. 1. To quell opposition or violent behavior means to stop it. [...] 2. If you quell an unpleasant feeling such as fear or anger, you stop yourself or other people from having that feeling. [...]
There are six meanings listed in OED's entry for the verb quell, four of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
