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
  • Industry sources said Pemsel’s exit has been planned for some time, and that the BFC has already been running a quiet, monthslong search for his successor.
    Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Libra September 23 – October 22 The private thought looping in the background may need a quiet place to land.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Many of the victims were young, and many were farmers who had lived in what was once considered one of the most serene and safest areas of the region, which includes metropolitan Port-au-Prince.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026
  • There’s no unwinding in the serene nature and crisp German air of Baden-Baden, the historic town long associated with restorative living, and that seamless discretion is entirely the point.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Her biggest concern is that creating an academy modeled after the military service academies would conflate what NASA does—the peaceful, civil exploration of space—with military activities undertaken by the US Space Force.
    Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Indigenous leaders played a prominent role in protests demanding the resignation of Porras and the peaceful transfer of power to Arévalo.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • There are so few people around, and such little movement on the placid sound, being here feels like a true respite from the city just a couple hours away.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Maheu and Perreault-Magny tied up briefly in the middle of the placid river with officers from the Akwesasne nation, a Tim Hortons coffee cup riding shotgun on their console.
    Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Adjective
  • But the calm day gave way to terror when her uncle again looked out into the ocean and saw Summer’s head bobbing in and out of the water.
    Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Silvia looks calm, his eyes open and head propped up slightly as Hood prayed furiously over him.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • There was a buzz of excitement, but a hushed atmosphere with post-practice interviews and a Burrow news conference unfolding.
    Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Palmer himself paced the room on a phone call, doling out smiles of encouragement and inspiring a hushed reverence in his wake.
    Colleen McNally Arnett, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Settle in for a restful night’s sleep before heading out for another adventure along the Oregon coast.
    Molly Allen, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Tart cherries are also rich in anthocyanins, plant compounds with anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce muscle soreness and support more restful sleep.
    Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 17 Aug. 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 30 Aug. 2026.

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