Synonyms of pacifist

pacifist 1 of 2

noun

ˈpa-sə-fist 

as in dove

a person who opposes war or warlike policies

a committed pacifist, Gandhi succeeded in bringing about Indian independence using only nonviolence

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dove
• peacenik
• peacemaker

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hawk
• warmonger
• jingo
• militarist
• nationalist
• chauvinist
• war hawk

pacifist

2 of 2

adjective

variants or pacifistic

as in pacific

inclined to live in peace and to avoid war

the newspaper's editorial board has clearly staked out a pacifist position on the current conflict

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pacific
• peaceful
• neutral
• peaceable
• benevolent
• quiet
• serene
• dovish
• nonaggressive
• antiwar
• antimilitarist
• calm
• mild
• tranquil
• nonbelligerent
• unwarlike
• gentle
• irenic
• kind
• amiable
• unaggressive
• noncombative
• submissive
• antiviolence
• relaxed
• amicable
• kindly
• affable
• antimilitaristic
• genial
• yielding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• warlike
• martial
• bloodthirsty
• hawkish
• militaristic
• militarist
• aggressive
• belligerent
• combative
• pugnacious
• bellicose
• hostile
• quarrelsome
• contentious
• antagonistic
• truculent
• discordant
• scrappy
• fierce
• argumentative
• gladiatorial
• hot-tempered

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pacifist

Noun

Still, Bale has a couple of nice moments as Mandras, a Greek fisherman who loses his fiancée (Penelope Cruz) to a mandolin-playing pacifist (Cage, of course) but, all told, is pretty reasonable about it. — Tim Grierson, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2026

Then, a Nobel Peace Prize Noel-Baker’s father, a successful London businessman and dedicated pacifist, put his own belief in public service into action as a member of the London County Council and, later, in the House of Commons. — Amy Crawford, Popular Science, 29 Jan. 2026

Adjective

His ideas are later used to discourage violently spearing food with a knife, and instead promote the pacifist chopstick. — New York Times, 17 July 2026

One consequence of the ensuing wars was the emergence of a new, anti-sectarian, pacifist element in Dutch religious life. — Clare Bucknell, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026