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.
“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
"We wanted to see them because they're really pretty, good photo opportunities and something you can only see in certain times of the year... and also it just feels so peaceful and nice," she said.
From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026
It described the protest initially being "peaceful" before disorder broke out among some.
From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026
Outside, the evening was peaceful and still, but inside, Nim was a rage hotter than Fire Mountain’s lava and wilder than a whirlpool in a storm.
From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr
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.
