Meaning & use
quell
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To stop something, especially a rebellion or disturbance, often by force.
Grammar: Takes an object: quell a riot. Often used in news reports about protests or violence.
Patterns
- quell a riot
- quell a rebellion
- quell unrest
The police were called to quell the riot.
The government sent troops to quell the uprising.
Measures were taken to quell the protests.
verbtransitive
To reduce or control a strong feeling, such as fear or anxiety.
Grammar: Takes an object: quell your fears. Often used in formal or literary contexts.
Patterns
- quell one's fears
- quell anxiety
- quell doubts
She took a deep breath to quell her nervousness.
His calm words quelled the crowd's anger.
He tried to quell his excitement before the interview.
Word forms
| third person singular | quells |
|---|---|
| past tense | quelled |
| past participle | quelled |
| -ing form | quelling |
Common combinations
- quell a riot
- The army was sent to quell the riot.
- quell fears
- The doctor's reassurance quelled her fears about the surgery.
- quell unrest
- The new policies were designed to quell unrest among workers.
- quell doubts
- His explanation quelled any doubts we had.
Synonyms and how they differ
- suppress
- Often used for stopping something by force or authority; 'quell' is similar but can also mean calming feelings.
- subdue
- Means to bring under control, often by physical force; 'quell' focuses more on stopping the disturbance itself.
- pacify
- Means to make calm or peaceful; 'quell' is stronger and implies putting an end to something active.
Opposites
Commonly confused: quell or quail?
quell vs quail
Quail means to feel afraid or to shrink back; quell means to stop or calm something. They sound similar but have different meanings.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence using 'quell'.
Choose one answer.
Quell means to stop or calm something, so 'quelled the argument' is correct. Option 1 is wrong because quell does not mean to place something. Option 2 is wrong because quell is not a verb of motion. Option 3 is wrong because quell is not a sound a cat makes.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “quell”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.