Definition of tranquilnext
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Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of tranquil are calm, peaceful, placid, and serene. While all these words mean "quiet and free from disturbance," tranquil suggests a very deep quietude or composure.

the tranquil beauty of a formal garden

When is it sensible to use calm instead of tranquil?

In some situations, the words calm and tranquil are roughly equivalent. However, 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 could peaceful be used to replace tranquil?

The synonyms peaceful and tranquil are sometimes interchangeable, but peaceful implies a state of repose in contrast with or following strife or turmoil.

grown peaceful in old age

When can placid be used instead of tranquil?

The meanings of placid and tranquil largely overlap; however, placid suggests an undisturbed appearance and often implies a degree of complacency.

remained placid despite the criticism

When is serene a more appropriate choice than tranquil?

The words serene and tranquil are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, serene stresses an unclouded and lofty tranquility.

watched the sunset of a serene summer's evening

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 tranquil Just around the corner from the rally on Tajrish Square, in a tranquil park near the Cinema Museum of Iran, locals perused an open-air book stall and sipped tea, while couples strolled hand in hand. Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 18 May 2026 Lucy is very isolated in this superficially tranquil domestic setting, separated from friends, far from her mother, dependent on Philip, and not even entirely fluent in German. Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026 Turning onto shady Little Road felt instantly tranquil. Christopher Spata, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026 That earlier film, a languid, unsettling thriller, focused on its protagonist’s emotional breakdown during a supposedly tranquil Mediterranean vacation. David Sims, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tranquil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tranquil
Adjective
  • My favorite way to spend an afternoon, though, was borrowing one of the hotel's bicycles and pedaling around South of Fifth, where quiet residential streets quickly give way to cafés, the marina, and the fun buzz of Ocean Drive.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026
  • For gardens, Shosei-en is a quiet surprise so close to Kyoto Station that most visitors walk right past it, a strolling garden of ponds, bridges, and teahouses that makes a perfect first or last stop in the city.
    Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Adjective
  • Most of the Barbados hotels worth their salt are peppered along the Platinum Coast (on the west side), where the water is calm and the beaches serene.
    Jonnie Bayfield, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026
  • On-site lodging includes 10 cabins and 60 campsites, offering a serene nature retreat.
    Korrin Bishop, Southern Living, 18 July 2026
Adjective
  • This peaceful apartment sits on the first floor of an authentic Basque house and is ideal for a couple traveling alone (or with a child).
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 31 July 2026
  • Kim Kardashian is enjoying some peaceful time on the lake with her family this summer.
    Meg Walters, InStyle, 31 July 2026
Adjective
  • An upper Midwest lake house often conjures images of a cozy cabin with knotty pine paneling, a fieldstone fireplace, and a dock stretching into the placid water.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 13 July 2026
  • The Alps rise up in the distance and the water's surface is placid.
    Ari Daniel, NPR, 9 July 2026
Adjective
  • With the support of Fernandez, Ellis found a sports psychologist who provided her with ways to maintain a calm headspace and positive outlook, even through a UCL injury in her thumb that arose just four games into this year’s campaign.
    Molly Keshin, New York Times, 25 July 2026
  • If only Israel and its American supporters would let Hamas and other genocidal, antisemitic groups do their thing, there’d be peace and calm.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026
Adjective
  • Running that corner of the internet is the SIE crew, who have been dropping ghostly sub-10-minute EPs semi-regularly that really dial in on their hushed mania.
    Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 17 July 2026
  • Museum staff and British and French diplomats who had been watching in hushed silence broke into applause.
    ABC News, ABC News, 10 July 2026
Adjective
  • With modern interiors and restful room features like teak furnishings, rain showerheads, and luxe robes, the hotel is designed to feel like a getaway.
    Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 23 July 2026
  • Here’s how to find the right temperature to set your AC to for comfortable, restful hot summer nights.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 July 2026
Adjective
  • Barbie’s hair choices, too, are ever so composed and elegant.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 29 July 2026
  • Replacement Ryunosuke Ito, plucked from Meiji University, had a composed debut, including laying on a try for Matsunaga, who was five for five off the tee.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Tranquil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tranquil. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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