peaceful

[ pees-fuhl ]

/ ˈpis fəl /

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See synonyms for: peaceful / peacefully / peacefulness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of peaceful

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

synonym study for peaceful

1. 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 WORDS FROM peaceful

peace·ful·ly, adverbpeace·ful·ness, nounquasi-peaceful, adjectivequa·si-peace·ful·ly, adverb

sem·i·peace·ful, adjectivesem·i·peace·ful·ly, adverbun·peace·ful, adjectiveun·peace·ful·ly, adverb

Words nearby peaceful

peaceable, peace and quiet, peacebuilding, Peace Corps, peace dividend, peaceful, peaceful coexistence, peacekeeper, peacekeeping, peacemaker, peacenik

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use peaceful in a sentence

Which is another reason for Putin to find some way to bring Belarusian protests to a peaceful end, with or without Lukashenko.
Poison, Protest and the Power of Putin|Tracy Moran|September 4, 2020|Ozy
America’s government repeatedly fails to provide meaningful avenues for peaceful change.
Kenosha’s looting is a symptom of a decrepit democracy|Aaron Ross Coleman|September 4, 2020|Vox
Most recently, some members of the US Congress wrote a petition calling on the US secretary of state to encourage the Ethiopian government to engage in an open dialog with the opposition for a peaceful transition.
Ethiopia’s escalating regional political crisis has roots in its federal system|Mulugeta G Berhe|September 3, 2020|Quartz
Being in the redwoods and watching them burn, it’s amazing how peaceful it could be at times.
How We Saved Our Neighborhood from a Wildfire|Dain Zaffke|September 2, 2020|Outside Online

I discovered—to my surprise—that I enjoyed how peaceful the airport could be at night.
What I learned from 5 years of cleaning airplanes in the middle of the night|matthewheimer|August 30, 2020|Fortune
Instead, he is cruelly jailed solely for the peaceful expression of his beliefs.
Behind Bars for the Holidays: 11 Political Prisoners We Want to See Free In 2015|Movements.Org|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To give the truth its rights, you have to see that groups like TMOC were threatened by peaceful protest.
The Monsters Who Screamed for Dead Cops|Jacob Siegel|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The petroleum industry has depicted fracking as a few antiseptic drills dug on peaceful farmland.
New York’s Conservative Fracking Ban|Jay Michaelson|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the past, union officials have appeared at numerous peaceful protests in New York and across the country.
The High-Priced Union Rep Charged With Attacking a Cop|Jacob Siegel|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The demonstrations have been largely peaceful, with fewer arrests and clashes with police than in other cities.
Eric Garner Protesters Have a Direct Line to City Hall|Jacob Siegel|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Every leader was killed, and every peaceful native whom the Spaniards met on their way was unmercifully treated.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
This information was balm to Louis, as it seemed to promise a peaceful termination to so threatening an affair.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
Nevertheless, both our arrival that evening and our landing the next morning were very quiet and peaceful.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
The place wore an entirely peaceful air, strong and massive though it appeared.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Last night again there was all sorts of firing and fighting going on, throughout those hours peaceful citizens ear-mark for sleep.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton

British Dictionary definitions for peaceful

peaceful

/ (ˈpiːsfʊl) /

adjective

not in a state of war or disagreement

tranquil; calm

not involving violencepeaceful picketing

of, relating to, or in accord with a time of peacepeaceful uses of atomic energy

inclined towards peace

Derived forms of peaceful

peacefully, adverbpeacefulness, noun

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

peaceful

Origin of peaceful

synonym study for peaceful

OTHER WORDS FROM peaceful

Words nearby peaceful

Words related to peaceful

How to use peaceful in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for peaceful

Derived forms of peaceful