truce

1 of 2

noun

ˈtrüs 

1

: a suspension of fighting especially of considerable duration by agreement of opposing forces : armistice, ceasefire

2

: a respite especially from a disagreeable or painful state or action

That tortured rage morphs into a loving, uneasy truce …

—Randy Gener

truce

2 of 2

verb

truced; trucing

intransitive verb

: to make a truce

transitive verb

: to end with a truce

Synonyms of truce

Noun

• armistice
• ceasefire

Examples of truce in a Sentence

Noun

There's been an uneasy truce between her and her parents for the past several months.

both sides agreed to a 24-hour truce beginning at midnight on Christmas Eve

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The truce unraveled after both sides resumed attacks on each other’s military installations and other infrastructure. — Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026

The developments over the weekend further jeopardized last month's fragile truce between the two sides, potentially raising fresh concerns over oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. — Azhar Sukri,terri Cullen,michael Wayland, CNBC, 19 July 2026

That prompted retaliatory strikes by Washington and fresh demands by Iranian hardliners to scrap the truce. — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 18 July 2026

The attempt to revive this truce between the United States and Iran clearly has just collapsed. — CBS News, 12 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English trewes, plural of trewe agreement, from Old English trēow fidelity; akin to Old English trēowe faithful — more at true entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1569, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing truce

• break the truce
• flag of truce

Rhymes for truce

• coos
• cruce
• deuce
• douce
• duce
• goose
• hoose
• juice
• loose
• mousse
• noose
• nous

Kids Definition

truce

noun

ˈtrüs

1

: a temporary stopping of fighting (as in a war)

2

: a short rest especially from something unpleasant