What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
quelling
Example
The police were successful in quelling the riot before it got out of hand. [quelling: verb]
Example
She tried quelling her nerves by taking deep breaths before the interview. [quelling: present participle]
stifle
Example
She had to stifle a laugh during the serious meeting. [stifle: verb]
Example
The lack of resources stifled the company's growth. [stifled: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Stifle is more commonly used than quelling in everyday language. Stifle is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while quelling is less common and is typically used in specific contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between quelling and stifle?
Both quelling and stifle are formal words that are appropriate for use in academic or professional writing.