quell

Intermediatezipf 3.00

Pronunciation

/kwɛl/(KWEL)

Part of speech

verbformal

Chinese

镇压；平息；消除（恐惧、暴动等）

Definition

To put an end to something forcefully; to suppress or calm.

Word family

  • (no major derivatives)

Collocations

  • quell a riot
  • quell fears
  • quell unrest
  • quell dissent

Examples

  1. 1.Police used tear gas to quell the violent protests. (suppress by force)
  2. 2.She tried to quell her rising anxiety before the presentation. (calm, suppress)

Synonyms

  • suppress/səˈprɛs/— prevent by force
  • subdue/səbˈdjuː/— bring under control
  • crush/krʌʃ/— defeat completely, harshest

Etymology

from Old English "cwellan" = to kill — originally meant to destroy, now softened to "suppress/calm"