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Synonym Chooser

How is the word tranquil different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of tranquil are calm, peaceful, placid, and serene. While all these words mean "quiet and free from disturbance," tranquil suggests a very deep quietude or composure.

the tranquil beauty of a formal garden

When is it sensible to use calm instead of tranquil?

In some situations, the words calm and tranquil are roughly equivalent. However, calm often implies a contrast with a foregoing or nearby state of agitation or violence.

the protests ended, and the streets were calm again

When could peaceful be used to replace tranquil?

The synonyms peaceful and tranquil are sometimes interchangeable, but peaceful implies a state of repose in contrast with or following strife or turmoil.

grown peaceful in old age

When can placid be used instead of tranquil?

The meanings of placid and tranquil largely overlap; however, placid suggests an undisturbed appearance and often implies a degree of complacency.

remained placid despite the criticism

When is serene a more appropriate choice than tranquil?

The words serene and tranquil are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, serene stresses an unclouded and lofty tranquility.

watched the sunset of a serene summer's evening

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tranquil Their outwardly tranquil and faithful domestic life exploded that winter. Ariane Lange, Sacramento Bee, 26 Jan. 2025 With items like party wings tossed in a Georgia peach and habanero sauce and juicy roasted hen with collard greens paired with timely tipples such as The First Snow (spiced rum, hazelnut liqueur, double spiced chai tea, cinnamon and heavy cream), travel day is downright tranquil. Demarco Williams, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025 Many of Malta’s countless attractions are best appreciated in the mild and tranquil winter months. Panorama Media Ltd., Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2025 Exposure to nature, with its subtle sounds, tranquil silence, and limited color palette calms both brain and body. Richard E. Cytowic, TIME, 23 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for tranquil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tranquil
Adjective
  • So rather than maintain the quiet, peaceful sleep environment any young child needs, her daughter found her serenity disrupted by the sound of her mom crashing to the floor having tried to sit on a chair that simply wasn't there.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
  • The Holmdel building was the next step, a gleaming, impeccable prism meant to contain thousands of scientists in splendid quiet isolation.
    Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Windham’s exclusive 1,200-acre mountain, with an elevation of 3,100 feet, is known for its pristine, uncrowded slopes—providing the perfect setting for an intimate and serene ski experience.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 17 Feb. 2025
  • However, there’s no doubt the wellness oasis is every bit as thoughtful and serene as the rest of the property.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The Vatican said the pope had a peaceful night and was up, sitting in his armchair on Wednesday receiving therapy.
    Trisha Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
  • The Vatican said the pope had a peaceful night and left his bed to sit in an armchair on Wednesday.
    Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • In the show’s first two seasons, Laura’s murder broke open a placid American town—much as a severed ear, in Lynch’s 1986 film, Blue Velvet, famously undermined middle America’s saintly image of itself.
    K. Austin Collins, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025
  • The Kremlin’s task for 2025, then, is to maintain a placid population.
    Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Both drivers have been relatively calm in the past, but that composure seemed to unravel today.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025
  • The one child was screaming and running up and down, and the other child was really calm and quiet.
    Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • With even his sporadic shortness of breath seemingly more a psychological symptom than anything else, the doctor simply prescribes some restful time off — an order that Munir takes as a prompt for an unhurried suicide mission.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 Feb. 2025
  • This idea often doesn’t leave room for restful behavior.
    Leslie D. Rose, Parents, 19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Unexpected challenges, such as economic disruptions or global crises, require leaders to remain composed and responsive.
    Dr. Sharon H. Porter, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
  • The 17-year-old, composed and well prepared, rattled off data about the need for youth involvement in civic decision-making.
    Mará Rose Williams, Kansas City Star, 28 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tranquil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tranquil. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on tranquil

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