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.
Guterres called for stepped-up diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful solution and said his personal envoy, Jean Arnault, was travelling to the region to support them.
From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026
“It would be very, very irresponsible for Western companies to continue to wait until we have a peaceful country,” Guy Robert Lukama, former chairman of Gécamines, Congo’s state-owned mining company, told the Journal.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
His new setting is peaceful, aside from occasional thunderclaps rolling through the valley during the rainy season, and the wildlife.
From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026
"I miss a peaceful night's sleep," an artist in Tehran told AFP, saying strikes the previous night were "so intense it felt like all of Tehran was shaking".
From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026
The mothers nursing their tiny infants, the females who gathered around to admire, the youngsters leaping over one another all created the bustle of a peaceful village.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
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.