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calm

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noun

calm

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word calm different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of calm are peaceful, placid, serene, and tranquil. While all these words mean "quiet and free from disturbance," calm often implies a contrast with a foregoing or nearby state of agitation or violence.

the protests ended, and the streets were calm again

When is peaceful a more appropriate choice than calm?

In some situations, the words peaceful and calm are roughly equivalent. However, peaceful implies a state of repose in contrast with or following strife or turmoil.

grown peaceful in old age

When might placid be a better fit than calm?

The words placid and calm can be used in similar contexts, but placid suggests an undisturbed appearance and often implies a degree of complacency.

remained placid despite the criticism

When would serene be a good substitute for calm?

Although the words serene and calm have much in common, serene stresses an unclouded and lofty tranquility.

watched the sunset of a serene summer's evening

When can tranquil be used instead of calm?

The synonyms tranquil and calm are sometimes interchangeable, but tranquil suggests a very deep quietude or composure.

the tranquil beauty of a formal garden

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of calm
Adjective
Northwest wind around 6 mph, becoming calm in the evening. Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Sep. 2025 Made with prebiotic oat to soothe irritation and support the skin barrier, the gentle cream also has feverfew extract, which is packed with antioxidants that reduce redness and further calm irritation. Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
Internally, there seems to be a sense of relative calm, including from those around Vitor Pereira, who has played a significant role in setting transfer policy this summer. Steve Madeley, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025 Expect personalized service, gourmet cuisine, and a deep sense of calm. Boris Seckovic, Travel + Leisure, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
Alvina Omisiri Agba, 23, allegedly approached the mother-son duo and offered to calm him down. Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025 Within the film’s compact running time, writer-director Ben Hania traces the fraught and torturous hours of January 29, 2024, when Palestine Red Crescent volunteers in the West Bank tried to calm a terrified 6-year-old girl and get an ambulance to her in Gaza. Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for calm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calm
Adjective
  • One result of the growth is a quiet boom in Southeast Asian grocery stores and restaurants.
    Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Inside, lofted seating positions deliver an elevated view while quilted semi-aniline leather and acoustic glass buffer passengers in comfort and quiet.
    Scotty Reiss, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The video of serene waves that swished behind the curved stage at the start of Dua Lipa’s concert slowly intensified until the tide became a surge, an appropriate analogy for the pop superstar’s arrival in the US for the first time in more than three years.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Previously owned by John Fogerty—and briefly before him, Sylvester Stallone—the property combines serene country charm with celebrity-caliber amenities.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Wishing all of you a peaceful start to this new year.
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The strike force waited in armored vehicles at a staging area in Kenscoff, where a once peaceful region has been under gang attacks since the beginning of the year.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The parade ended with the release of 80,000 doves and an equal number of balloons in a visual spectacle symbolizing peace.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Why would Europe's appetite for risk be markedly different after a peace deal is signed?
    Daniel R. DePetris, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Markopoulos might include a warm bath or shower, reading a physical book, listening to soothing music, or drinking a caffeine free herbal tea.
    Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
  • The beef is tender, and the broth has that nice aromatic spice that is immediately soothing and associated with a classic beef noodle soup.
    Shindy Chen, Charlotte Observer, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Traded in a variety of forms, lithium after it is mined sells as spodumene (containing close to 6% lithium metal).
    Tim Treadgold, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
  • The policy proposal, contained in the state’s Master Plan for Aging, comes three years after Hochul, a Democrat, issued an executive order creating a panel to map out the needs of New York’s aging population and suggest how best to serve older adults.
    Jake Pearson, ProPublica, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Water features are a key component thanks to their tranquil sound and rhythmic flow.
    Laura Fenton, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Aug. 2025
  • The interface is minimal, featuring only a tranquil compass needle and gentle haptic feedback.
    Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Her parents, Bertram and Olga, operated a music school and composed music.
    Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2025
  • Krypto maintains the decidedly unruly nature of the dog upon which he is based, a funny foil to Superman’s (played by David Corenswet) kind and composed comportment.
    Dan Heching, CNN Money, 12 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Calm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calm. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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