tranquil
Americanadjective
-
free from commotion or tumult; peaceful; quiet; calm.
a tranquil country place.
- Antonyms:
- agitated
-
free from or unaffected by disturbing emotions; unagitated; serene; placid.
a tranquil life.
adjective
Synonym Usage
See peaceful.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of tranquil
First recorded in 1595–1605; earlier tranquill, from Latin tranquillus “quiet, calm, still”
Explanation
When a place or your state of mind is peaceful, quiet and serene, it is tranquil. Like a pond with no ripples, tranquil means calm and placid. A pleasant state of mind, with nothing to agitate or cause anxiety, can also be considered tranquil. As you struggle through your yoga poses, the teacher might annoyingly exclaim how tranquil you should be feeling, and when you and your siblings bicker over every little thing, your parents are wishing the house were more tranquil.
Vocabulary lists containing tranquil
Unit 1: Telling Details
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List 5
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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 12–15
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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.
But at first glance, much of Al-Kharj's tranquil environment offers few hints of its martial history.
From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026
Along the way we visit a fair number of handsome library-like studies, complete with picture windows looking out onto tranquil, verdant scenes.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
“Exquisite and tranquil lands perfect for hiking, horseback riding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and more,” the listing said.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026
Amid widespread concern about tariffs in Mexico—the United States major commercial partner, with almost $1 trillion in annual two-way trade—Ebrard cautioned: “I tell you to put yourselves in Zen mode. As tranquil as possible.”
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026
The lake boats go slowly by in the distance, their smoke trailing behind them, the sun sets to the left, pink and tranquil.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
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.
