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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
Viewers were able to see the young pointer edging closer to the senior labrador, eventually pawing at and almost sitting on the older dog, who remained calm and disengaged throughout the interaction. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025 Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
Russian drones were able to penetrate deep into areas Kyiv’s forces once relied upon as oases of calm, and troops struggled to find the personnel and resources to halt a persistent enemy advance. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 31 July 2025 Public safety agencies urged calm while offering imprecise predictions of exactly what might occur in a few hours when the waves arrived. Andrea Klick, Oc Register, 30 July 2025
Verb
The Spruce Pets recommend using calming supplements or pheromone diffusers for a few weeks before a new pet arrives. Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Aug. 2025 Skin-care products with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid can offset dryness, while calming botanicals and antioxidants reduce inflammation that can make puffiness more noticeable. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for calm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calm
Adjective
  • Aston Villa have had a quiet summer, which has led to varying opinions on their floor and ceiling.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Thessaloniki, however, pulses with spice-laden markets, waterfront cafés, and Byzantine mosaics tucked into quiet chapels.
    Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • For example, implementing reservations for Acadia’s Cadillac Mountain at sunrise means at least some people get a relatively serene experience, as opposed to lots of people having an overcrowded experience.
    Allie McCreary, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Nghia has completed several other bamboo projects in China, as well as a serene bamboo pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2018.
    Faye Bradley, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Similar concerns were raised in the latest U.S. Country Report on Human Rights Practices, which flagged issues of judicial independence, media freedom, and the right to peaceful assembly.
    Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 25 Aug. 2025
  • Relations were strained but ultimately peaceful between the families until the wild and unpredictable hustler Baroness Eloise Wehrborn de Wagner-Bosquet (Ana de Armas) and her two lovers, Rudy Lorenz (Felix Kammerer) and Robert Phillipson (Toby Wallace), showed up.
    EW.com, EW.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The outcome might not be peace, another pipe dream whose pursuit produced nothing but grief.
    Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
  • But let us also, quietly, unapologetically, protect our peace.
    Pankaj Vasani, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Frow’s comments in Edinburgh could soothe some of these concerns, with the content chief seemingly being reassured by his conversation with his new bosses.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Grand Velas offers an all-suites setup, with rooms designed in soothing, contemporary neutrals with just enough pops of color to give rooms a sense of the energy running throughout the property.
    Margaux Lushing, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • According to the Florida Department of Health, raw milk can contain disease-causing bacteria, including Campylobacter, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Listeria, Salmonella, and others.
    Mark Harper, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
  • However, there's a significant difference between containing and controlling a wildfire.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 18 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
  • Yet for all the nerves, there is great pride in Yoro’s calm and composed performances, which have quickly taken him to the top.
    Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 20 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Calm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calm. Accessed 1 Sep. 2025.

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