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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Recent Examples of pacifist
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026
All voiceover in the film is detached from the images, from a mixture of unidentified community folk who are content to speak anonymously, and neighboring outsiders perplexed by these out-of-time pacifists.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Japan’s pacifist constitution wouldn’t bar the country from helping with mine clearance around the Strait of Hormuz at the conclusion of the war between the US, Israel and Iran, but Tokyo has no plans to deploy minesweepers to the region, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said.
—Alastair Gale, Bloomberg, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pacifist
Noun
There are nods to this history throughout, and particularly in the restaurant, Annette, which was named in tribute to Annette Kolb, the inspirational French-German writer and pacifist who lived at the original Hotel Cayré for 17 years from 1944.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026
All voiceover in the film is detached from the images, from a mixture of unidentified community folk who are content to speak anonymously, and neighboring outsiders perplexed by these out-of-time pacifists.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Japan deployed its first long-range cruise missiles at a military camp, pushing the limits of the country’s pacifist stance.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Japan’s pacifist constitution wouldn’t bar the country from helping with mine clearance around the Strait of Hormuz at the conclusion of the war between the US, Israel and Iran, but Tokyo has no plans to deploy minesweepers to the region, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said.
—Alastair Gale, Bloomberg, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pacifist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pacifist
Noun
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Roses were gently laid across the caskets before eight white doves were released into the sky, their wings unfurling into the clouds — a cruel irony beside the eight young lives below, cut short before their stories ever had the chance to unfurl at all.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
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The painting on the back of the skirt was inspired by Eirene, the Greek goddess of peace, as well as doves, which also symbolize peace.—
Renan Botelho,
Footwear News,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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Olivier tried successfully to get the reader to understand how a gentle, pacific young man could come to kill more than a thousand people, and so capturing the tone and empathetic portrayal not only of Simo Häyhä and his colleagues but also of the often-bewildered Russian soldiers was essential.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
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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
Adjective
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Hiking in Kolob Canyons offers the kind of peaceful solitude that’s difficult to find in Zion.—
Dave Parfitt,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
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The mood is cocooning, cinematic, and wonderfully peaceful.—
Kathryn O’Shea-Evans,
Robb Report,
9 May 2026
Adjective
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China has tried to stay neutral on Iran, despite Beijing being close economic partners with Tehran.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
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Compass Point upgrades OptimumBank Holdings to buy from neutral Compass Point upgraded OptimumBank f ollowing earnings.—
Michael Bloom,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pacifist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pacifist. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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