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
  • Xavi Simons was born in Amsterdam but grew up in the quiet village of Rojales in Alicante.
    Jay Harris, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Home Depot is poised to benefit from a quiet home renovation boom, driven by high mortgage rates and aging homes, boasting strong free cash flow and a 238% dividend hike.
    Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 22 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
  • Located in the small fishing village of Salema, with a quiet beach just one minute from the front door, this is a peaceful and authentic Algarve stay—a world away from the busy resorts along the region’s east coast.
    Katie Silcox, Vogue, 24 July 2026
  • Iran has long insisted its program is peaceful, and it isn’t believed by the IAEA or the West to have had an active military nuclear program since 2003.
    Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 24 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
  • The ministry instructed citizens to remain calm and head to the nearest safe space.
    Jomana Karadsheh, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
  • My work became not just watching the Zeitgeist within the company but learning how to contain it—reading through messages, distilling the emotional temperature, and crafting executive responses meant to absorb shock and restore calm.
    Claire Stapleton, New Yorker, 18 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
  • After a recent resort-wide refresh, redesigned guest rooms and suites ooze with coastal charm and serve as restful spaces after busy days by the water.
    Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 18 July 2026
  • Higher levels of both hormones promote restful sleep and reduce frequent nighttime awakenings when levels fall, other symptoms like night sweats appear and further disrupt rest.
    Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 July 2026
Adjective
  • 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
  • After opening the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a dominant 4-1 win over Paraguay in Los Angeles, the United States followed it with a composed 2-0 victory over Australia in Seattle.
    Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Tranquil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tranquil. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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