Definition
Quell means to suppress, extinguish, or calm down. It can also mean to overcome or subdue something, especially a feeling or emotion.
Pronunciation
US English
UK English
Part of speech
Verb
Synonyms
Suppress, extinguish, pacify, subdue, silence, allay, alleviate, calm, quiet, still
Antonyms
Provoke, incite, agitate, inflame, arouse, stimulate
Example sentences
- The police were called in to quell the riot before it got out of hand.
- She tried to quell her nerves before the big presentation by taking deep breaths and focusing on her breathing.
- The teacher’s stern look was enough to quell the chatter in the classroom and restore order.
- The medication helped to quell the patient’s pain and discomfort.
Usage
Quell is a versatile word that can be used in a variety of contexts. It is often used in situations where there is unrest, chaos, or strong emotions that need to be calmed down or subdued. For example, it can be used to describe the efforts of law enforcement to quell a riot or protest, or the efforts of a parent to quell a child’s tantrum.
Quell can also be used in situations where there is a need to suppress or extinguish something. For example, it can be used to describe the efforts of firefighters to quell a raging fire or the efforts of a person to quell their hunger or thirst.
In some cases, quell can also be used to describe the process of overcoming or subduing a feeling or emotion. For example, it can be used to describe the efforts of a person to quell their anxiety or fear before a big event, or the efforts of a person to quell their anger or frustration in a difficult situation.
The word quell is derived from the Old English word cwelan, which means “to die” or “to fade away”. It is related to the modern English word “quench”, which has a similar meaning of extinguishing or suppressing something
