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

Also Thursday, the Syrian Democratic Forces accused the government of violating a four-day truce declared on Tuesday. —Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026

Key to the truce continuing to hold is the disarming of Hamas, something that the militant group that has controlled the Palestinian territory since 2007 has refused to do, despite Israel seeing it as nonnegotiable. —Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026

The two major powers have since continued a cycle of trade escalations and truces. —Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026

But the war over Chicago’s streets is won by Tommy when the cartels come to a truce and Jenard loses his support. —Derek Lawrence, HollywoodReporter, 20 Jan. 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