truce

1 of 2

noun

ˈtrüs 

1

: a suspension of fighting especially of considerable duration by agreement of opposing forces : armistice, ceasefire

2

: a respite especially from a disagreeable or painful state or action

That tortured rage morphs into a loving, uneasy truce …

—Randy Gener

truce

2 of 2

verb

truced; trucing

intransitive verb

: to make a truce

transitive verb

: to end with a truce

Synonyms of truce

Noun

• armistice
• ceasefire

Examples of truce in a Sentence

Noun

There's been an uneasy truce between her and her parents for the past several months.

both sides agreed to a 24-hour truce beginning at midnight on Christmas Eve

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The truce, poised to coincide with Russia’s Victory Day holiday on May 9, would come several weeks after Kyiv and Moscow negotiated a ceasefire around Orthodox Easter, though each side accused the other of violations. —Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026

The latest war erupted on March 2, when, after holding its fire since a 2024 truce, Hezbollah launched a surprise barrage of missiles into northern Israel in retaliation for the United States and Israel attacking Iran. —ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026

Alerts spark panicked flights The latest war erupted on March 2, when, after holding its fire since a 2024 truce, Hezbollah launched a surprise barrage of missiles into northern Israel in retaliation for the United States and Israel attacking Iran. —Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026

Despite the truce, both sides continue to strike each other. —Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English trewes, plural of trewe agreement, from Old English trēow fidelity; akin to Old English trēowe faithful — more at true entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1569, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing truce

• break the truce
• flag of truce

Rhymes for truce

• coos
• cruce
• deuce
• douce
• duce
• goose
• hoose
• juice
• loose
• mousse
• noose
• nous

Kids Definition

truce

noun

ˈtrüs

1

: a temporary stopping of fighting (as in a war)

2

: a short rest especially from something unpleasant