Synonyms

peaceful

American

[pees-fuhl] / ˈpis fəl /

adjective

characterized by peace; free from war, strife, commotion, violence, or disorder: a peaceful demonstration.

a peaceful reign;
a peaceful demonstration.
of, relating to, or characteristic of a state or time of peace.
peaceable; not argumentative, quarrelsome, or hostile.

a peaceful disposition.

peaceful British

/ ˈpiːsfʊl /

adjective

not in a state of war or disagreement
tranquil; calm
not involving violence

peaceful picketing
of, relating to, or in accord with a time of peace

peaceful uses of atomic energy
inclined towards peace

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

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

peacefully adverb
peacefulness noun
quasi-peaceful adjective
quasi-peacefully adverb
semipeaceful adjective
semipeacefully adverb
unpeaceful adjective
unpeacefully adverb

Etymology

Origin of peaceful

First recorded in 1250–1300, peaceful is from the Middle English word pesful; peace, -ful

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.

The news-reading public used spirit gossip, spirit cartoons, and spirit love stories as distractions from the realization that there seemed to be no peaceful way forward on the increasingly heated issue of slavery’s expansion.

From Literature

"Whether it's peaceful coexistence or permanent confrontation, we are ready for either, and the choice is not ours to make."

From BBC

In his Wednesday speech, Kim said if his nation’s nuclear program were respected he saw “no reason” why U.S. relations would be strained, referring to a “peaceful coexistence.”

From The Wall Street Journal

South Korea has mounted a concerted push to build bridges with Pyongyang under President Lee Jae Myung, who has sought the "peaceful coexistence" of two nations still technically at war.

From Barron's

Iran insists its programme is only for peaceful purposes, though the country is the only non-nuclear-armed state to have enriched uranium at near weapons-grade level.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023