peaceable

American  

[pee-suh-buhl] / ˈpi sə bəl /

adjective

1. inclined or disposed to avoid strife or dissension; not argumentative or hostile: a peaceable disposition.

   a peaceable person;

   a peaceable disposition.

   Synonyms:

   pacifist, friendly, amicable

   Antonyms:

   hostile, quarrelsome

2. peaceful; tranquil.

   in peaceable periods;

   a peaceable adjustment of a dispute.

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peaceable British  

/ ˈpiːsəbəl /

adjective

1. inclined towards peace

2. tranquil; calm

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Other Word Forms

• peaceableness noun
• peaceably adverb
• unpeaceable adjective
• unpeaceably adverb

Etymology

Origin of peaceable

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English pesible, from Middle French paisible; peace, -able

Explanation

Someone or something that is peaceable tends to avoid conflict. A peaceable demonstration would most likely involve lots of protest banners instead of angry rioters. A peaceable group of people finds non-violent ways to resolve disagreements — you could call such a group a peaceable society. This adjective is less common than the closely related peaceful. Both words come from the Old French pais, or "peace," and its Latin root pacem, "treaty of peace" or "absence of war."

Example Sentences

The Bab el-Mandeb, known for being treacherous to navigate even in the most peaceable of times, is said to mean the "Gate of Lamentation," and these days, it’s living up to its name.

From Salon • Jul. 14, 2024

“We’ve held great trust in our justice system as they work through this process of holding accountable those who seek to threaten our First Amendment rights to free speech and peaceable assembly,” she said.

From New York Times • Jul. 21, 2023

The judge said Jenkins was a "peaceable man" of "excellent character" who tended to avoid confrontation but on Christmas night wanted to get Mr Birch away from his family "knowing what he was capable of".

From BBC • Jul. 17, 2023

The imagery in my picture book was peaceable, full of compassion and understanding, and it seems to have stayed in my head.

From Scientific American • Apr. 22, 2023

If her grandfather had been there, he might have told her that a peaceable spirit was the reward of charity.

From "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy" by Gary D. Schmidt