quell /kwel/ BrE AmE verb [transitive] formal
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: cwellan 'to kill' ]
1 . to end a situation in which people are behaving violently or protesting, especially by using force SYN put down
quell the violence/disturbance/riot etc
Police used live ammunition to quell the disturbances.
2 . literary to reduce or stop unpleasant feelings such as fear, doubt, or worry:
‘Jerry?’ she called, trying to quell the panic inside her.