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quietude

noun

qui·​etude ˈkwī-ə-ˌtüd How to pronounce quietude (audio)
-ˌtyüd
Synonyms of quietudenext
: a quiet state : repose

Examples of quietude in a Sentence

after his tantrum, the toddler lapsed into an exhausted quietude and fell asleep the quietude of the early morning was broken only by the occasional chirping of birds
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.
Four drifting expeditions into elegant quietude find the half dozen players gravitating to an alluring tenderness and weightlessness. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025 The immediate vibe was one of quietude. Helen Molesworth, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025 With a meditative perspective on the everyday, Saleh presents a world of slowness and quietude, offering a space of respite amid a world so often filled with confusion and chaos. Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025 In Favignana, time seems to stand still, and development has yet to capitalize on the quietude. Lindsay Cohn, Vogue, 6 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for quietude

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin quiētūdō, from Latin quiētus quiet entry 2 + -tūdō, suffix of abstract nouns

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of quietude was in 1597

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Quietude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quietude. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

quietude

noun
qui·​etude ˈkwī-ə-ˌt(y)üd How to pronounce quietude (audio)
: the state of being quiet : tranquillity

More from Merriam-Webster on quietude

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