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Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of placid are calm, peaceful, serene, and tranquil. While all these words mean "quiet and free from disturbance," placid suggests an undisturbed appearance and often implies a degree of complacency.

remained placid despite the criticism

When is it sensible to use calm instead of placid?

The synonyms calm and placid are sometimes interchangeable, but calm often implies a contrast with a foregoing or nearby state of agitation or violence.

the protests ended, and the streets were calm again

In what contexts can peaceful take the place of placid?

The meanings of peaceful and placid largely overlap; however, peaceful implies a state of repose in contrast with or following strife or turmoil.

grown peaceful in old age

When is serene a more appropriate choice than placid?

While the synonyms serene and placid are close in meaning, serene stresses an unclouded and lofty tranquility.

watched the sunset of a serene summer's evening

When can tranquil be used instead of placid?

While in some cases nearly identical to placid, 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 placid This fall, our son will turn one, and while Marvin still doesn’t like Fresh Direct deliveries, his behavior has improved, his demeanor is more placid, and his recall is… well, that part is still quite bad. Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2025 Yet some of the most responsive and well-run cities, including a host of safe and placid South Orange County cities such as Rancho Santa Margarita and Aliso Viejo, have relatively low staffing levels. The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 10 Aug. 2025 This placid scene taken with a Canon R6 Mark II camera by photographer Paul Joels captures the Milky Way in the sky over a boathouse in Lulworth Cove in the U.K. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 13 July 2025 Canada’s Eastern Townships is networked with quiet roads that curve this way and that, passing vast vineyards and rich agricultural lands; placid, crystal clear lakes; and whitewashed churches bearing towering steeples. Jeanine Barone, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for placid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for placid
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
  • 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
  • On highways and surface roads in the rural countryside west of Detroit, the 2025 Ford Explorer was smooth and quiet, with plenty of power for highway acceleration.
    Mark Phelan, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The peak of hurricane season is here, and activity could soon ramp up, despite the relative quiet currently occurring in the tropics, according to meteorologists.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Hill stayed calm, recovering from the blunder and finding an open lane for an 80-yard touchdown.
    Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
  • All of these things can soften poop and move it through your system more smoothly—which helps keep those nearby blood vessels calm and cool.
    Erica Sloan, SELF, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • What began as a peaceful protest escalated after the government deployed a heavy security presence in the protest area.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Where to stay A 20-minute walk from Tiananmen Square and the entrance to the Forbidden City is the PuXuan Hotel and Spa, an oasis of 116 peaceful rooms.
    Mae Hamilton, AFAR Media, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The vocabulary being used by Qatar’s prime minister is strong, evocative and damning, a departure from his usual composed response to the incessant twists and turns of trying to end the 23-month war in Gaza.
    Paula Hancocks, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Remember, significant wealth can be created in the market by those who maintain a composed and strategic approach during times of volatility.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • In Los Angeles, the tapes revealed insiders cutting deals in hushed tones.
    Matt Klink, Oc Register, 6 Sep. 2025
  • One storyline that will be at the forefront of season 3 centers on Wednesday's Aunt Ophelia, who's been spoken about in hushed whispers throughout season 2.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Placid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/placid. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

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