peaceful
Americanadjective
adjective
-
not in a state of war or disagreement
-
tranquil; calm
-
not involving violence
peaceful picketing
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of, relating to, or in accord with a time of peace
peaceful uses of atomic energy
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inclined towards peace
Synonym Usage
Peaceful, placid, serene, tranquil refer to what is characterized by lack of strife or agitation. Peaceful today is rarely applied to persons; it refers to situations, scenes, and activities free of disturbances or, occasionally, of warfare: a peaceful life. Placid, serene, tranquil are used mainly of persons; when used of things (usually elements of nature) there is a touch of personification. Placid suggests an unruffled calm that verges on complacency: a placid disposition; a placid stream. Serene is a somewhat nobler word; when used of persons it suggests dignity, composure, and graciousness: a serene old man; when applied to nature there is a suggestion of mellowness: the serene landscapes of autumn. Tranquil implies a command of emotions, often because of strong faith, which keeps one unagitated even in the midst of excitement or danger.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of peaceful
First recorded in 1250–1300, peaceful is from the Middle English word pesful; see peace, -ful
Explanation
Peaceful describes something calm and tranquil, not at war. The ocean seems peaceful when the waves lap gently at your feet, and a country can be peaceful when it's not fighting anyone. Peace comes from the Latin word pax meaning, "tranquility, absence of war." Add the suffix ful which means — you guessed it — "full" and you have something full of peace, like a protest where nobody gets hurt. It refers to being passive, committed to nonviolence, like Martin Luther King Jr.'s peaceful protests during the Civil Rights Movement. It's also the mellowness that inspired the Eagles to sing, "I got a peaceful, easy feeling that you won't let me down."
Vocabulary lists containing peaceful
Beowulf vocabulary
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"The Flying Machine" by Ray Bradbury
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President Obama's second inaugural address
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In no small part, the United States’ continued safety and stability have been made possible by two things: the peaceful transfer of power and stable military leadership.
From Salon ● Sep. 4, 2026
Kyiv hailed the visit, Jaishankar's first standalone trip to Ukraine, as "historic" and called for a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
The family lived in a home adjacent to a man-made lake in Irvine’s Woodbridge neighborhood, a master-planned community known for its peaceful, family-friendly atmosphere.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026
They also say a bullet train, and all the construction, would disrupt their peaceful downtown.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
They out-flew the flood, moving ahead of the line that turned the river from peaceful to dangerous.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
