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View synonyms for placid

placid

[ plas-id ]

adjective

  1. pleasantly calm or peaceful; unruffled; tranquil; serenely quiet or undisturbed:

    placid waters;

    a placid temperament.

  2. showing lack of energy or concern:

    It is difficult to understand her relatively placid acceptance of the truth and its impact on her future.

    Emotions ebbed from anger into placid resignation with the passage of time.



placid

/ pləˈsɪdɪtɪ; ˈplæsɪd /

adjective

  1. having a calm appearance or nature


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Derived Forms

  • placidity, noun
  • ˈplacidly, adverb

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Other Words From

  • pla·cid·i·ty [pl, uh, -, sid, -i-tee], plac·id·ness [plas, -id-nis], noun
  • plac·id·ly adverb
  • un·plac·id adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of placid1

First recorded in 1620–30; from Latin placidus “calm, quiet,” akin to placēre “to seem good, please” (originally, “to calm”); please, -id 4

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Word History and Origins

Origin of placid1

C17: from Latin placidus peaceful; related to placēre to please

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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

He uses the relatively placid actions of some to minimize the obvious violence and vandalism committed by others.

Built in 1960, the facility is now as well known for its placid, soaring architecture as for the boundary-pushing science that happens in its labs.

From Time

Despite the warning signs posted around the lake, some visitors have waded into the seemingly placid waters of Emerald Pool, only to get whisked away by the current.

The benchmark is hovering at nearly double the level it was a year ago—suggesting a new normal relative to the placid expectations of recent years, and compared with the exuberance in the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 that soared more than 45% last year.

From Quartz

Calcium-­carbonate tufa spires shoot up from the placid waters, resulting in an eerie ­display of the lake’s peculiar ­chemistry.

They would speak up, but in tones still soft and placid; and Spahn often overheard them describing him as a “beautiful person.”

Ellie Black rouses quietly to consciousness at around 3, her eyes unfocused, mind placid.

Underneath the most placid waters, there are vicious currents and tides, and underwater volcanoes that are constantly erupting.

His face immediately shifted out of the placid, guarded, friendliness of the Scheduled Speaker into ambroad, welcoming smile.

And I long for the placid days when all I worried about were jackhammers, Halal carts and clueless tourists on rental bikes.

Mrs. Newbolt was looking away toward the hills, a dreamy cast in her placid face.

The baby had thrived; as placid, laughing a little thing as if its mother had never known sorrow.

Frulein Timm belongs to the single sisterhood, but is one of the fresh and placid kind, and as neat as wax.

They mostly wore the placid expression of folks engaged in business affairs instead of the worried look of pleasure-seekers.

The old lady glanced up from her work; her placid face wore a look of unusual serenity.

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More About Placid

What does placid mean?

Placid means calm, peaceful, quiet, and undisturbed. A close synonym is tranquil.

Placid is used to describe things that have a calm appearance or a calm nature, such as a placid pond whose surface is perfectly still.

When placid is used to describe people, it can mean that they’re very calm and even-tempered. However, placid can also mean showing a lack of energy or concern. Describing a person as placid in this way is often done to criticize them for not caring enough to take action in a situation that calls for action to be taken, as in You shouldn’t be so placid about injustice—you should do something about it instead of just ignoring it.   

When placid is used to describe animals, like dogs or cats, it usually means they stay calm and don’t get aggressive, as in Hospital patients are calmed by the old dog’s placid nature. 

The state of being placid is called placidity.

Example: I love the sight of the lake’s placid waters at sunrise.

Where does placid come from?

The first records of the word placid come from the 1620s. It comes from the Latin placidus, meaning “calm” or “quiet,” from the Latin verb placēre, “to please” (or, originally, “to calm”).

Placid scenes are often those that have a calming, soothing effect on the observer due to their calm and quiet nature. When placid is used to describe a person, it can mean “too calm.” Using the word this way implies that a person should be much less calm or unconcerned than they are.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to placid?

  • placidly (adverb)
  • placidity (noun)
  • placidness (noun)

What are some synonyms for placid?

What are some words that share a root or word element with placid

What are some words that often get used in discussing placid?

How is placid used in real life?

Placid is often used to describe still waters. When it’s used to describe people, it can be positive or critical.

 

 

Try using placid!

Which of the following terms is NOT a synonym of placid?

A. peaceful
B. anxious
C. serene
D. easy-going

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