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

Example Sentences

Military comedies have a long and relatively peaceable history on screens small and large — Fred Astaire, Bob Hope, Abbott and Costello, Martin and Lewis and Bill Murray all made them.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 31, 2024

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

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

Another 37,380 visitors had entered using passes, bringing the total admission for the day to 751,026, more people than had attended any single day of any peaceable event in history.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson