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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pacifist
Iveta Silova, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2025
Marchand has crossed lines by licking players, or repeatedly punching a hockey pacifist like Vancouver’s Daniel Sedin in a final series.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2025
Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
Such an overgrown standing army is undesirable, not on pacifist grounds, but purely from the standpoint of military efficiency.
—John Fischer, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pacifist
Noun
Even before seizing national power in 1933, the Nazi Party was closely monitoring German universities through nationalist student groups and sympathetic faculty, flagging professors deemed politically unreliable – particularly Jews, Marxists, liberals and pacifists.
—Iveta Silova, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2025
Marchand has crossed lines by licking players, or repeatedly punching a hockey pacifist like Vancouver’s Daniel Sedin in a final series.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Takaichi has called for a hardline stance towards China and is also in favor of revising Japan’s pacifist constitution, especially Article 9, which renounced Japan’s right to wage war.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
Such an overgrown standing army is undesirable, not on pacifist grounds, but purely from the standpoint of military efficiency.
—John Fischer, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pacifist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pacifist
Noun
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But just before the ball hit the turf, in dove Davison to scoop it up.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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While images of retinas bursting with color and a dove flapping its wings on an outstretched human hand looped behind them, the two allowed the crowd to grow denser while bobbing along to their rhythms.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Courtesy: Apple Apple on Tuesday sent invites to the media and analysts for a launch event at its campus on September 9 at 10 A.M pacific time.—
Kif Leswing,
CNBC,
26 Aug. 2025
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My late grandfather, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, served in the pacific campaign.—
Simon Perry,
People.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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On campus, Christopher Benton, 48, was arrested and later booked into Alameda County’s Santa Rita Jail for refusing to leave after being asked to do so by police, obstruction and coming on to campus with the intent of interfering with peaceful activities, Mogulof said.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
12 Nov. 2025
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But, in a year that has already seen multiple political assassinations, the deployment of the National Guard to American cities, and masked agents of the federal government hauling people off the streets and into unmarked vans, the prospects for a peaceful anniversary appear remote.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The interior designer’s Wayfair rug collection with Loloi includes so many options in neutral shades and subtle patterns that complement a variety of home styles, including modern, farmhouse, and traditional aesthetics.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
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The boots also have vivid contrast stitching that offsets the neutral shoe colors, adding a touch of personality to an otherwise versatile boot.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pacifist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pacifist. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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