peaceful
Americanadjective
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
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.
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
For a brief moment, Duane experienced absolute silence, which was peaceful but also dreadful, because that was the moment that he and the toboggan, so far above the ground below, finally stopped.
From Literature
Everything looked so peaceful and happy that I hated to disturb them.
From Literature
At first I was happy, because a fresh blanket of snow made the world look peaceful and new.
From Literature
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.
