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What is the Difference Between placid, calm, tranquil, and serene?
Like placid, the words calm, tranquil, and serene all mean "quiet and free from disturbance." Calm conveys a quiet composure that contrasts with surrounding chaos, while tranquil suggests a very deep quietude and peace. Serene is loftier still, carrying a sense of utter peace and happiness. Though placid traces back to Latin placēre, meaning "to please," it isn't always as positive a term as its synonyms. It can imply a lack of agitation rather than a true peace, and it sometimes suggests excessive self-satisfaction or even stupidity.
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A placid lake has a smooth surface untouched by wind. A placid scene is one in which everything seems calm; it may even include a meadow with a few placid cows grazing on it. Someone with a placid personality has an inner peacefulness that isn't easily disturbed. As a personality trait, placidity is surely a lot better than some of the alternatives; however, the word sometimes describes people who are also a bit passive, like those contented cows.
Examples of placid in a Sentence
Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026
But beneath that placid exterior, scientists have now found, the cluster is still reverberating from an ancient cosmic collision.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 20 May 2026
Last Summer is a hard movie to shake, precisely because its placid surfaces conflict so beautifully and unnervingly with its dark heart.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026
The 1981 painting is abstract and minimalist, a compilation of placid shades—pink, blue, and white lines—stacked horizontally.
—Luis Parrales, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for placid
Cite this Entry
“Placid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/placid. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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placid
adjective
