serene

1 of 2

adjective

se·rene sə-ˈrēn

Synonyms of serene next

: marked by or suggestive of utter calm and unruffled repose or quietude

a serene smile

: clear and free of storms or unpleasant change

serene skies

: shining bright and steady

the moon, serene in glory—

Alexander Pope

: august

—used as part of a title

His Serene Highness

serenely adverb

sereneness

sə-ˈrēn-nəs

noun

serene

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noun

archaic : a serene condition or expanse (as of sky, sea, or light)

archaic : serenity, tranquility

Choose the Right Synonym for serene

calm, tranquil, serene, placid, peaceful mean quiet and free from disturbance.

calm often implies a contrast with a foregoing or nearby state of agitation or violence.

the protests ended, and the streets were calm again

tranquil suggests a very deep quietude or composure.

the tranquil beauty of a formal garden

serene stresses an unclouded and lofty tranquility.

watched the sunset of a serene summer's evening

placid suggests an undisturbed appearance and often implies a degree of complacency.

remained placid despite the criticism

peaceful implies a state of repose in contrast with or following strife or turmoil.

grown peaceful in old age

Example Sentences

Adjective Between the two Azorean blue belfries of Our Lady of Good Voyage Church, a serene statue of the Madonna gazes out at the harbor, cradling a small boat in her arm. —

Anita Diamant, National Geographic Traveler, September 2005

And Breeders' Cup day was anything but serene. The weather was … cold and often gray, with a 20-mile-an-hour headwind scouring the backstretch. —

Lorna Lentini, New York Times, 14 July 2002

For Ben and me, in Omaha in 1961, our lives were untroubled and serene. After six years of marriage, we seemed to have reached the happy ending to the national American Dream. —

Lois Mark Stalvey, The Education of a WASP, (1989) 1998

a serene woman who was everyone's source of support Noun Oft of one wide expanse had I been told / That deep-browed Homer ruled as his demesne: /Yet did I never breathe its pure serene / Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold: … —

John Keats, "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer," 1816

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Now, though, his musings are noticeably more serene. —

Leah Lu, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2023 After 7,000 years, Turkish wines are hitting the big time Off the main drag, Cunda is more serene. —

Feride Yalav-heckeroth, CNN, 24 May 2023 Designed by Jean-Marc Houmard and Yvan Cussigh, owners of the nearby boutique design hotel, Tribal Hotel, Casa Violeta takes inspiration from traditional Moroccan riads, an architectural style that is famous for serene courtyards. —

Kelley Mullarkey, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Mar. 2023 Removing a tub can also open a floor plan to create a bath that feels less crowded and more serene. 3. —

Kristina Mcguirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2023 The farm offers visitors a serene escape, including a private dam for swimming and hiking trails. —

Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 1 Mar. 2023 In Fort Worth, the views of the Trinity River are serene. —

Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 10 May 2023 Everything about Lanserhof Sylt is almost aggressively serene. —

Garrett Munce, Town & Country, 4 May 2023 Everything is all the more serene with a fresh cover of snow that arrived overnight and into the early morning. —

Matthew Askari, Men's Health, 19 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'serene.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.