Quell-Quench | Commonly Confused Words

Quell

/kwel/

To put an end to something, usually by force or authority

She tried to quell her fears with a deep breath.Authorities were able to quell the unrest in the city.His calm voice helped to quell the noisy crowd.

/kwentʃ/

To satisfy thirst, to extinguish a fire, or suppress a feeling.

Quench your thirst with a refreshing lemonade.His enthusiasm was quenched by the bad news.A cool breeze quenched the summer heat.

Quell means to suppress or put an end to something, often used in the context of emotions or uprisings.
Quench means to satisfy, especially in terms of thirst or need, but can also mean extinguishing a fire.
Think of quelling as controlling or calming and quenching as providing relief or satisfaction.
Quelling is more about subduing or pacifying, whereas quenching is about fulfilling or dampening.
Both words relate to putting an end to something, but quell has a more forceful, suppressive tone, while quench is about satisfying or extinguishing.