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

Russia and Ukraine have enacted a 72-hour temporary truce for the duration of the US envoys’ visits, specifically halting airstrikes on each other’s capitals, Kyiv and Moscow. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026

Some China watchers, however, are keeping their expectations low, as both sides appear to be more interested in avoiding moves that would risk their current trade truce. — Justina Lee, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026

Neither side can continue indefinitely between full-scale war and a truce, said Hamidreza Azizi, senior Iran analyst at the Crisis Group, an international think tank. — David Rising, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Since late June, a shaky truce has allowed most to return home. — ABC News, 31 Aug. 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