peaceable

adjective

peace·​able ˈpē-sə-bəl How to pronounce peaceable (audio)
1
a
: disposed to peace : not contentious or quarrelsome
b
: quietly behaved
2
: free from strife or disorder
peaceableness noun
peaceably adverb

Examples of peaceable in a Sentence

He has a peaceable nature. The crowd dispersed in a peaceable manner.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
In fact, as believing Christians, Jews, or Muslims know, the founders and leaders of these major world religions advocate understanding of others, empathy for their suffering, and the pursuit of peaceable relations with all. Howard Steele, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025 Such was the peaceable dreaming, the end-of-history thinking, in the wake of the Twelve-Day War. David Remnick, New Yorker, 28 July 2025 The giant moa was the world’s largest bird, up to 11 feet high and 500 lbs., a peaceable, plant-eating giant that lived on the edges of forests in New Zealand’s South Island. David Bloom, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025 If anything, the scale of the Second World War and the advent of the atom bomb made the quest for a peaceable international order more urgent than ever. Margaret MacMillan, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for peaceable

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of peaceable was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Peaceable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peaceable. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

peaceable

adjective
peace·​able ˈpē-sə-bəl How to pronounce peaceable (audio)
peaceably adverb

Legal Definition

peaceable

adjective
peace·​able ˈpē-sə-bəl How to pronounce peaceable (audio)
: marked by freedom from dispute, strife, violence, or disorder
the right to peaceable assembly
peaceable possession
peaceably adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on peaceable

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