quell
suppress / subdue / silence / calm
Transitive Verb
past: quelledpp: quelleding: quelling
This word carries a strong sense of forceful suppression or intentional silencing. When applied to emotions, it suggests a conscious effort to push down a feeling to maintain composure, often implying a struggle between the internal impulse and the desire for control. In social or political contexts, the term implies the use of authority or physical power to restore order. It differs from simply stopping something by suggesting a decisive, often overwhelming action that renders the opposition or the emotion powerless.
Meanings
Transitive Verb
[~ something]
To stop a feeling, emotion, or desire, especially a strong or unpleasant one, by calming it or suppressing it.
"She took a deep breath to quell her rising anxiety before the presentation."