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

Other terms in the initial truce included a temporary cessation of fighting, a partial withdrawal of the Israeli military, and humanitarian aid provisions. —David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 6 Dec. 2025

Bell’s biography argues that Goethe brokered a truce between the secular world of politics and the spiritual world of art. —Merve Emre, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025

Leo’s trip comes at a tense time, one year after an uneasy truce was established between Israel and Hezbollah through US mediation. —Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 30 Nov. 2025

Despite the truce, demand at home remains soft. —Victor Loh, CNBC, 30 Nov. 2025

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