Definition of peacefulnext
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word peaceful different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of peaceful are calm, placid, serene, and tranquil. While all these words mean "quiet and free from disturbance," peaceful implies a state of repose in contrast with or following strife or turmoil.

grown peaceful in old age

In what contexts can calm take the place of peaceful?

The synonyms calm and peaceful are sometimes interchangeable, but calm often implies a contrast with a foregoing or nearby state of agitation or violence.

the protests ended, and the streets were calm again

When could placid be used to replace peaceful?

In some situations, the words placid and peaceful are roughly equivalent. However, placid suggests an undisturbed appearance and often implies a degree of complacency.

remained placid despite the criticism

When would serene be a good substitute for peaceful?

The words serene and peaceful can be used in similar contexts, but serene stresses an unclouded and lofty tranquility.

watched the sunset of a serene summer's evening

When can tranquil be used instead of peaceful?

Although the words tranquil and peaceful have much in common, tranquil suggests a very deep quietude or composure.

the tranquil beauty of a formal garden

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of peaceful Figor will spend retirement with Jay and his family on their 20‑acre property in Ellis County – a peaceful end to a short but extraordinary law enforcement career. J.d. Miles, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026 Video footage of disabled military veterans—some in wheelchairs, others leaning on canes—being zip-tied and dragged out of the Capitol Rotunda for staging a peaceful, anti-war protest. John Whitehead, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026 For nearly 25 years, the IAEA has been unable to conclude that all of Iran’s nuclear material and activities are devoted to peaceful uses. Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026 Creeks and streams around Lanesboro also offer a peaceful fishing experience. Robin Pfeifer, Midwest Living, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for peaceful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for peaceful
Adjective
  • Olivier tried successfully to get the reader to understand how a gentle, pacific young man could come to kill more than a thousand people, and so capturing the tone and empathetic portrayal not only of Simo Häyhä and his colleagues but also of the often-bewildered Russian soldiers was essential.
    Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Courtesy: Apple Apple on Tuesday sent invites to the media and analysts for a launch event at its campus on September 9 at 10 A.M pacific time.
    Kif Leswing, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Under the Clean Slate Act, HB 1836, the state now has until 2029 to create, test and launch systems to automate the sealing of eligible low-level, nonviolent criminal records after an individual meets all requirements and remains crime-free for a sustained period.
    Brian Fabes, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Danielson is not accused of being involved in any of these crimes, but their photograph — a mugshot taken after they were arrested during a nonviolent protest in 2019 — was published in stories about the string of murders, where they were linked to the group that perpetrated them.
    Tessa Stuart, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • As the Moon moves through your 12th House of Solitude, quiet preparation sharpens your thinking.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Despite a quiet start on radar, the weather is expected to turn more active later in the day.
    Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The Orangery, one of nearly a dozen gardens, provides an exotic and tranquil refuge to recovery from the adrenaline.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Turning onto shady Little Road felt instantly tranquil.
    Christopher Spata, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Located in the foothills of Uttarakhand above the pilgrimage town of Rishikesh, Ananda is a serene 100-acre oasis on the former estate of the Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal.
    Betsy Andrews, Travel + Leisure, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The clip sees the pair sitting across from each other at a cement table setting in a garden with a serene view backed by a mountainscape, greenery and blue skies.
    Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Members of the historic pacifist churches like the Quakers, the Mennonites and the Brethren had tough choices to make after hearing the declaration’s call to arms.
    Thomas Tweed, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Philip Fong | Afp | Getty Images Japan renounced war under Article 9 of its post-World War II pacifist constitution.
    Sam Meredith,Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • With no discernable reason beyond intimidation, Hasner approved this staggering waste of taxpayer funds, stifling the First Amendment right of peaceable assembly.
    Karen J. Leader, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Military experts and Iran scholars say that airstrikes alone are unlikely to transform the Islamic republic into a peaceable, democratic country.
    Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • By using an infrared sauna before bed, users can calm their body and mind and improve restful sleep.
    Mitti Hicks, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Hotel Posada San Juan On the Parque San Juan, close to the Museo de Ropa Étnica de México (MUREM), the 16-key Hotel Posada San Juan provides guests with quiet, restful nights and easy access to the busy Centro Histórico.
    Regina Zumarraga, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Peaceful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peaceful. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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