irenic

American  

[ahy-ren-ik, ahy-ree-nik] / aɪˈrɛn ɪk, aɪˈri nɪk /

Also irenical or eirenic

adjective

1. tending to promote peace or reconciliation; peaceful or conciliatory.

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irenic British  

/ aɪˈriːnɪk, -ˈrɛn- /

adjective

1. tending to conciliate or promote peace

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Other Word Forms

• irenically adverb
• nonirenic adjective
• nonirenical adjective
• unirenic adjective

Etymology

Origin of irenic

First recorded in 1860–65; from Greek eirēnikós, equivalent to ( eirḗn(ē) ) “peace” + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

Respond with irenic understanding, and you’re treating her as a patient or a puppet, someone acted upon and controlled by larger forces.

From New York Times • Mar. 15, 2022

The light filtering through the front door toward which Melrose walks is redemptive, the opening bars of Blur’s “Tender,” which accompany him, suitably irenic.

From The New Yorker • Jun. 22, 2018

He was, if you’ll pardon the expression, positively irenic.

From New York Times • Aug. 28, 2011

As for tall, irenic Princess Gabriella in her villa bedroom filled with toy stuffed animals -like many a lovely princess before her. she would be expected to marry whomever her queen mother tells her to.

From Time Magazine Archive

The irenic character of the Augsburg Confession was owing to this principle.

From The Lutherans of New York Their Story and Their Problems by Wenner, George