quietism
noun
qui·et·ism
ˈkwī-ə-ˌti-zəm 
1
a
: a system of religious mysticism teaching that perfection and spiritual peace are attained by annihilation of the will and passive absorption in contemplation of God and divine things
b
: a passive withdrawn attitude or policy toward the world or worldly affairs
2
: a state of calmness or passivity
Examples of quietism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
To most modern peoples the idea would represent a secular analogue to quietism, fatalistic and Luddite.
—
Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Pent-up emotions, regrets, and bestial longings all burst forth in an expansive baritone whose confident quietism distinguishes him from other wispier alt-centric brooders like Daniel Caesar.
—Will Dukes, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025
At the end of The Fraud, Eliza encounters Mr. Bogle’s son Henry, who has grown disgusted with his father’s quietism and become a political radical.
—Adam Kirsch, Harper's Magazine, 14 Aug. 2023
Prayer is often seen as quietism, a plea to be rescued instead of a call to action.
—David S. Wallace, The New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2021
What was an ultimately unsuccessful effort to draw the monkhood out of its political quietism swiftly mutated into an anti-progressive force, and continued to endure as a dark cloud over the region’s politics in subsequent decades.
—Amar Diwakar, The New Republic, 23 Mar. 2018
To acknowledge this fact is not to call for quietism.
—Jacob Brogan, Slate Magazine, 27 Mar. 2017
Moral relativism doesn't imply moral quietism.
—Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 3 May 2010
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Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Pent-up emotions, regrets, and bestial longings all burst forth in an expansive baritone whose confident quietism distinguishes him from other wispier alt-centric brooders like Daniel Caesar.
—Will Dukes, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025
At the end of The Fraud, Eliza encounters Mr. Bogle’s son Henry, who has grown disgusted with his father’s quietism and become a political radical.
—Adam Kirsch, Harper's Magazine, 14 Aug. 2023
Prayer is often seen as quietism, a plea to be rescued instead of a call to action.
—David S. Wallace, The New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2021
What was an ultimately unsuccessful effort to draw the monkhood out of its political quietism swiftly mutated into an anti-progressive force, and continued to endure as a dark cloud over the region’s politics in subsequent decades.
—Amar Diwakar, The New Republic, 23 Mar. 2018
To acknowledge this fact is not to call for quietism.
—Jacob Brogan, Slate Magazine, 27 Mar. 2017
Moral relativism doesn't imply moral quietism.
—Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 3 May 2010
Cite this Entry
“Quietism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quietism. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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