1
as in to subdue
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
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Recent Examples of quell
The Tiger defense quelled a red-hot Commodore offense for most of the game, and on the other side, Mizzou made a pair of trips to the red zone.
—
Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
But the National Guard's presence does not only symbolically quell protest.
—Colleen Hamilton, Them., 30 Oct. 2025
Trump has deployed the national guard to cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland and Memphis to quell protests against stricter immigration enforcement.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
First, hotter temperatures seem to quell the virus, and the weather is getting cooler.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quell
Verb
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Nazism’s total domination politically and socially found an aesthetic counterpart in the visual reduction of bodies to things, ecstatically subdued before the hypnotic power of a leader, force, or sublime beauty.—
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Barack Obama also availed himself of caution, reluctance and NATO partners to use air power to subdue chaos on the ground in Libya.—
Verb
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After once rising from her seat to scold a man recording the broadcast on his phone to shushing in-studio viewers during an interview with Zohran Mamdani, Whoopi Goldberg just wrote another chapter in her comical relationship with The View's studio audience.—
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That shush in the art dealership was loud.—
Verb
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The lawsuit alleges that for more than a decade, beginning at least as early as January 2015, Pepsi and Walmart used their dominant positions in the beverage and grocery markets to suppress price competition.—
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The largest anti-government demonstrations to rock Iran in recent years intensified Friday night, fueling fears of growing fatalities as authorities battle to suppress the protests.—
Verb
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Do not let the voices of my courageous compatriots be silenced.—
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Dan Piper, a teacher who spoke at the vigil, told those gathered that the federal officials are hoping to silence dissent.—
Verb
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Instead, officials engaged in a vicious crusade to repress whoever dared challenge the outcome.—
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His name has been associated with police operations carried out in the context of protests, detentions, and crowd-control actions executed by the PNB, a force that since its creation has played a central role in repressing political dissent.—
Verb
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Her sparkling long-sleeve dress draped across her body and settled into a small train behind her.—
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Some might accept a lien or letter of protection, which meant they would not be paid until lawsuits like those that would be filed on Barb’s and Sharon’s behalf settled.—
Verb
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This story has been updated to clarify that the judge has recommended the subpoena be quashed.—
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Another record-breaking elimination Just under the wire for a 2025 designation, in mid-December Brazil was validated by WHO for quashing transmission of HIV between mothers and children.—
Verb
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The air is hushed, the water glassy.—
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Mendoza hushed any critics in the Rose Bowl, providing both the stats and the subtle moments.—
Cite this Entry
“Quell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quell. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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