peaceful

peaceful — adjective

1. with no fighting, war, or violent trouble

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

with no fighting, war, or violent trouble

Example

The march stayed peaceful even when hundreds filled the city square.

stay peaceful during a public event

Both sides agreed to a peaceful transfer of power after the vote.

collocation: peaceful transfer of power

Common collocations
  • peaceful protest
  • peaceful transfer of power
  • peaceful election
  • remain peaceful
Synonyms
  • non-violent

    directly stresses the absence of physical force or harm

  • stable

    suggests order and no serious trouble, but not always the idea of peace

  • orderly

    focuses more on control and good behavior in a group

Antonyms
  • violent

    the direct opposite, stressing physical force or harm

  • hostile

    stresses anger or opposition, even before violence begins

  • troubled

    broader, suggesting continuing problems or unrest

Grammar Patterns

a peaceful protest

remain peaceful

a peaceful election

Usage Note

Common with protests, elections, borders, and transfers of power. Distinguish from adjective/2, which is about quiet or relaxing places, times, and feelings.

Common Mistakes

We want a calm election.
We want a peaceful election.
calm usually describes a feeling or atmosphere; peaceful is the usual word when stressing no violence or conflict.

2. quiet, still, and free from worry or noise

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

quiet, still, and free from worry or noise

Example

We found a peaceful beach far from the busy night market.

collocation: peaceful beach

After the baby fell asleep, the whole apartment felt peaceful.

feel peaceful after linking verb

Common collocations
  • peaceful place
  • peaceful sleep
  • look peaceful
  • feel peaceful
Synonyms
  • calm

    broader and common for feelings, weather, voices, and situations

  • quiet

    focuses more directly on little sound

  • tranquil

    more literary and often used for natural scenes

  • serene

    more literary and often suggests gentle beauty as well as calm

Antonyms
  • noisy

    stresses a lot of sound

  • tense

    suggests nervous pressure instead of ease

  • restless

    suggests constant movement or inability to settle

Grammar Patterns

a peaceful beach

feel peaceful

look peaceful

Usage Note

Usually describes places, times, sleep, or facial expressions rather than public events. Distinguish from adjective/3, which describes people or groups that prefer harmony.

Common Mistakes

The peaceful class made the teacher happy.
The quiet class made the teacher happy.
peaceful usually suggests a relaxing atmosphere, not simply low volume in one room.

3. wanting people to get along and choosing not to fight or argue

3.adjectiveC1
Definition

wanting people to get along and choosing not to fight or argue

Example

Nadia is peaceful by nature and hates shouting at anyone.

peaceful by nature

The group stayed peaceful, even after strangers mocked their signs.

stay peaceful under pressure

Common collocations
  • peaceful person
  • peaceful beliefs
  • peaceful leader
  • peaceful by nature
Synonyms
  • peace-loving

    very close in meaning and directly stresses preference for harmony

  • gentle

    broader and often focuses on soft behavior rather than views about conflict

  • non-aggressive

    more formal and stresses not attacking others

  • conciliatory

    more formal and suggests trying to end disagreement

Antonyms
  • aggressive

    ready to attack, push, or fight

  • quarrelsome

    ready to argue often

  • warlike

    stronger and often used for nations or attitudes that favor fighting

Grammar Patterns

a peaceful person

peaceful by nature

peaceful beliefs

Usage Note

Mostly used for people, groups, beliefs, or aims. Distinguish from adjective/1, which describes situations with no violence, and adjective/2, which describes a quiet feeling or scene.

Common Mistakes

The lake is peaceful because it does not like conflict.
The lake is peaceful because it is quiet.
only people, groups, or beliefs can actively prefer peace.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

Peaceful, calm, quiet, tranquil, and serene can all describe a pleasant lack of disturbance, but they are not exact matches. Peaceful often suggests a place, time, or feeling with no stress, conflict, or interruption, so it can carry both emotional ease and silence. Calm is broader and can describe people, voices, weather, or situations under control. Quiet focuses most directly on little sound. Tranquil is more literary and is common for natural scenes such as lakes or gardens. Serene is also more literary and often adds a gentle beauty, especially on a face or in a mood. A room may be quiet after the children leave, but it may feel peaceful after the candles are lit.

peaceful ↗calm ↗quiet ↗tranquilserene

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Peaceful was formed in English from peace and the ending -ful. Peace came into English through French from Latin pax, meaning peace. The ending -ful adds the idea of being full of a quality or showing it, so peaceful first meant characterized by peace and later also came to describe quiet places, calm states, and people who avoid conflict.