1
as in suppressed
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shushed
to stop the noise or speech of
the principal held up her hand to quell the students so they could hear the urgent announcement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of quelled
The attorney for Illinois countered that the situation on the ground, specifically at Broadview, had been quelled by state police after restrictions on protest hours were instituted.
—
Connor Greene, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
The ensuing years of widespread speculation, meme coins, volatility, and the fall of Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX quelled any remaining enthusiasm.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 17 Oct. 2025
The large police presence, with a handful of riot vans positioned between the protestors and the stadium entrance, quelled any threat of violence until a small flashpoint close to half-time — tear gas was briefly used to disperse activists who attempted to break through police barricades.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
That argument hasn’t quelled internal frustration.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
For decades, DeLodder said, hospitals have quelled the establishment of freestanding birthing centers by arguing against their necessity.
—Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
Offered a chance to explain any reluctance to stay in the NBA, the Lithuanian center once again quelled the topic.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
Bunnie Xo quelled online chatter surrounding her husband's 200-pound weight loss in a TikTok clip shared Saturday.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2025
Just as the geographical Palestinian homeland must be seized by Zionist forces, all resistance quelled and all Indigenous Palestinians ultimately expelled and silenced forever, so too must any and all electronic trace of support for Palestinian freedom be expunged from the database.
—Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
Connor Greene, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
The ensuing years of widespread speculation, meme coins, volatility, and the fall of Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX quelled any remaining enthusiasm.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 17 Oct. 2025
The large police presence, with a handful of riot vans positioned between the protestors and the stadium entrance, quelled any threat of violence until a small flashpoint close to half-time — tear gas was briefly used to disperse activists who attempted to break through police barricades.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
That argument hasn’t quelled internal frustration.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
For decades, DeLodder said, hospitals have quelled the establishment of freestanding birthing centers by arguing against their necessity.
—Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
Offered a chance to explain any reluctance to stay in the NBA, the Lithuanian center once again quelled the topic.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
Bunnie Xo quelled online chatter surrounding her husband's 200-pound weight loss in a TikTok clip shared Saturday.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2025
Just as the geographical Palestinian homeland must be seized by Zionist forces, all resistance quelled and all Indigenous Palestinians ultimately expelled and silenced forever, so too must any and all electronic trace of support for Palestinian freedom be expunged from the database.
—Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quelled
Verb
-
However, these cells are normally suppressed by testosterone and kept in check by the body’s overall hormone balance.—
Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The autocratic czarist regime ruled with an iron hand and suppressed opposition through censorship, banishment, and executions.—
Karl Ove Knausgaard,
New Yorker,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Jena asked, for which she was shushed), that was spotted and strong enough to kill a man.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Less than 24 hours after federal officials descended on Canal Street in New York City’s Chinatown district, the scene there appeared to be relatively subdued Wednesday afternoon.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
22 Oct. 2025
-
To be sure, the declines in major banks were relatively subdued Thursday.—
Alex Harring,Sarah Min,
CNBC,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The man twirled a weighted knife in his fingers and looked down with cold eyes that quieted the couple.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
-
At first, the army did bring order to the streets and quieted public protests.—
Time,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
At one point in the third quarter, Daniels scrambled against a blitz, stopped to throw, then retreated again 14 yards behind the line of scrimmage and completed a pass while getting crushed to the ground.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The second quarter crushed the Celtics.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There have also been plenty of trade rumors regarding Brown that seemed to be silenced.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
-
But last week the Browns silenced the receiver, limiting him to one catch for 15 yards.—
Omar Kelly
October 24,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This Committee was initially created during the McCarthy Era, a dark time when the federal government repressed and persecuted American citizens for their political beliefs.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
1 Oct. 2025
-
There are so many things that are being repressed here, and when Vivian brings them up her mother reacts poorly.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
After two years, the brutal war that started with Hamas' seizure of hostages and led to Israel's bombardment of Gaza was stilled.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The service lasted more than five hours, but the moment that stilled the crowd came when his widow, Erika, spoke of her husband’s killer in the language of absolution.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Quelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quelled. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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