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

truce

2 of 2

verb

truced; trucing

intransitive verb

: to make a truce

transitive verb

: to end with a truce

Synonyms

Noun

• armistice
• ceasefire
• cease-fire

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

However, previous truce agreements have failed to bring lasting peace between M23 and the Congolese armed forces. —Sarah Dean, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025

In the case, high school students in 1965 planned to wear black armbands to school to show their support for a truce in the Vietnam War. —Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2025

As with the president’s unsuccessful high-profile efforts to broker a truce between Russia and Ukraine, this might have seemed an extravagant overbilling. —Thomas De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 22 Sep. 2025

At a meeting in Geneva in May, the two sides announced a 90-day truce, lowered tariff rates and eased other trade barriers including deliveries of Chinese rare earth minerals. —John Ruwitch, NPR, 19 Sep. 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

15th century, 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