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; see peace, -ful
Explanation
Peaceful describes something calm and tranquil, not at war. The ocean seems peaceful when the waves lap gently at your feet, and a country can be peaceful when it's not fighting anyone. Peace comes from the Latin word pax meaning, "tranquility, absence of war." Add the suffix ful which means — you guessed it — "full" and you have something full of peace, like a protest where nobody gets hurt. It refers to being passive, committed to nonviolence, like Martin Luther King Jr.'s peaceful protests during the Civil Rights Movement. It's also the mellowness that inspired the Eagles to sing, "I got a peaceful, easy feeling that you won't let me down."
Vocabulary lists containing peaceful
Beowulf vocabulary
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Flying Machine" by Ray Bradbury
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
President Obama's second inaugural address
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
On a larger scale, AI data centers are at the forefront of local protests and environmental concern, with the megaprojects polluting acres of once peaceful land, using up precious resources and driving up electricity prices.
From Salon • Apr. 17, 2026
It’s a news-based index that measures “the threat, realization and escalation of adverse events associated with wars, terrorism and any tensions among states and political actors that affect the peaceful course of international relations.”
From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026
What began about a week ago as small, mostly peaceful protests across northern India has since escalated, turning violent in some areas.
From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026
Castellanos and others have accused the department of overreacting to the situation, which they maintain was largely peaceful.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026
When the tour resumed, Farmer kept remarking on how pleasant and peaceful the quarters were, and finally I said to him, “I find them kind of depressing.”
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
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.
