placidly

[ plas-id-lee ]

/ ˈplæs ɪd li /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for placidly on Thesaurus.com

adverb

in a calm or peaceful manner; tranquilly: The mural brings to life a world where mammoths still embark on ancient migrations, where giant ground sloths browse placidly, where saber-toothed tigers stalk their prey.

in a way that shows a lack of energy or concern:After playing fairly placidly in the first quarter and ending down three goals, the girls entered the second quarter with stronger, more dynamic play.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of placidly

placid + -ly

OTHER WORDS FROM placidly

un·plac·id·ly, adverb

Words nearby placidly

place setting, placet, place value, placid, placidity, placidly, Plácido's disk, Placidyl, placing, plack, plackart

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

MORE ABOUT PLACIDLY

What does placidly mean?

Placidly means in a way that is placid—calm, peaceful, or quiet.

Placid is used to describe things that have a calm appearance or a calm nature, such as a placid pond whose surface is perfectly still.

When placid is used to describe people, it can mean that they’re very calm and even-tempered. However, placid can also mean showing a lack of energy or concern. Saying that a person is acting placidly in this way is often done to criticize them for not caring enough to take action in a situation that calls for action to be taken, as in You shouldn’t accept defeat so placidly.

Example: Rex is the calmest dog I’ve ever had—he acts so placidly, even around strangers.

Where does placidly come from?

The first records of the word placidly come from the 1630s. Its base word, placid, comes from the Latin placidus, meaning “calm” or “quiet,” from the Latin verb placēre, “to please” (or, originally, “to calm”). The suffix -ly is used to form adverbs.

When placidly is used to describe the actions of a person, it can mean “too calm.” Using the word this way implies that a person should be much less calm or unconcerned than they are.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to placidly?

placid (adjective)

What are some synonyms for placidly?

What are some words that share a root or word element with placidly?

What are some words that often get used in discussing placidly?

How is placidly used in real life?

Placidly can be used in both positive and negative ways. When it is used negatively, it often implies criticism of a person who should be more concerned about what is happening.

Thanks to Beth and Katelyn at @milwaukeekayak for a great morning paddle today. If only every work day could start off so placidly. pic.twitter.com/gsR7TKjqnF

— Scott Silet (@ssilet) July 2, 2020

today started out so placidly & then turned into a rollercoaster. like, Six Flags Great Adventure rollercoaster-worthy! fun but… @_@

— Eva Chen (@evachen212) April 19, 2012

“I did not kiss that church’s judgment goodbye so I could placidly accept anyone else’s.” https://t.co/Km6GEULyfj

— Zach Thompson (@zthomp) July 14, 2019

Try using placidly!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of placidly?

A. peacefully
B. anxiously
C. serenely
D. tranquilly

How to use placidly in a sentence

Of course the Lady Regent of the Vale was standing placidly beside the open Moon Door, the wind rustling her robes.
Game of Thrones’ Ep. 7 ‘Mockingbird’ Recap: Conscious Coupling (and Uncoupling)|Andrew Romano|May 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She placidly tells people she is dreaming until her frantic father finds her again and loses his temper.
Diagnosing Jane, Louis C.K.’s Troubled Daughter on ‘Louie’ Who Can’t Separate Dreams From Reality|Russell Saunders|May 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Gun smoke lay in placidly moving layers of gray before the light beams.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
"I wonder where we shall all be six years from now," said Constance, placidly eating her ice.
The Story of the Big Front Door|Mary Finley Leonard

But her flow of small talk, the conversational stop-gap of the woman accustomed to social amenities, went on placidly.
The Hidden Places|Bertrand W. Sinclair
The hired man went howling through the woods, and she returned to the house, smiling placidly.
A Yankee from the West|Opie Read
Then she glanced up, and caught sight of where I lay, placidly reposing on the mantel-piece with my eyes turned up to the ceiling.
Little Folks|Various