tranquil

adjective

tran·​quil ˈtraŋ-kwəl How to pronounce tranquil (audio)
ˈtran-
1
a
: free from agitation of mind or spirit
a tranquil self-assurance
b
: free from disturbance or turmoil
a tranquil scene
2
: unvarying in aspect : steady, stable
tranquilly adverb
tranquilness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for tranquil

calm, tranquil, serene, placid, peaceful mean quiet and free from disturbance.

calm often implies a contrast with a foregoing or nearby state of agitation or violence.

the protests ended, and the streets were calm again

tranquil suggests a very deep quietude or composure.

the tranquil beauty of a formal garden

serene stresses an unclouded and lofty tranquility.

watched the sunset of a serene summer's evening

placid suggests an undisturbed appearance and often implies a degree of complacency.

remained placid despite the criticism

peaceful implies a state of repose in contrast with or following strife or turmoil.

grown peaceful in old age

Examples of tranquil in a Sentence

the house was once again tranquil after the kids moved outside to play though she should have been upset, she felt oddly tranquil upon learning that she would not be receiving the scholarship
Recent Examples on the Web The decor for the remodeled guestrooms, which previously had a nautical theme embellished with bold red, white and Navy blue accents, now has a more tranquil, coastal vibe, much like the rest of the property. Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 Unlike Edvard Munch’s epic, open-mouthed, two-handed wail, the faces in Johnson’s art are tranquil and composed, not emotional. Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024 All feel tranquil and spacious, ranging from 462 to 721 square feet, with oversized windows and generously sized bathrooms with deep stone tubs. Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 The rest of the week is relatively tranquil with a warming trend into Thursday and Friday before a chance of light precipitation on Saturday. Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024 Casablanca Sayulita sits on the north end of Sayulita, walking distance to town, with a beachfront location and tranquil vibe. Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 3 Feb. 2024 Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry left behind their life in Virginia about a decade ago for what promised to be a tranquil existence at sea, their golden years spent wintering on the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2024 On the other hand, the Hong Kong Palace Museum offers a tranquil spot to see rare exhibitions of ancient scrolls, ceramics, fine art and other masterpieces from Beijing's esteemed Palace Museum collection. Kissa Castañeda, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Read about my tranquil post-work trip experience at this Marriott gem. Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tranquil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tranquill, from Latin tranquillus

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of tranquil was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near tranquil

Cite this Entry

“Tranquil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tranquil. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tranquil

adjective
tran·​quil ˈtraŋ-kwəl How to pronounce tranquil (audio)
ˈtran-
: free from disturbance or turmoil : quiet
tranquilly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on tranquil

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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