placidly
Americanadverb
-
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.
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
- unplacidly adverb
Etymology
Origin of placidly
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.
Tom looked on placidly, a Latin rhythm capering overhead.
From Los Angeles Times
Ogie, who accepts without question that his legs don’t function, is helped each morning into the tub by one of the brothers, where he placidly exists.
From Los Angeles Times
“A change from the climbing gym,” he says placidly.
From New York Times
Archie, the owl whose species is native to Europe and Asia, stood placidly under the shower of a sprinkler.
From Reuters
“I immediately knew I didn’t want to play him as evil,” said Moayed, whose Torvald seems so placidly self-satisfied, having the wife he calls his “songbird” live by his rules.
From Washington Post
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.
