placid

adjective

plac·​id ˈpla-səd How to pronounce placid (audio)
: serenely free of interruption or disturbance
placid skies
a placid disposition
placidity noun
placidly adverb
placidness noun

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What is the Difference Between placid, calm, tranquil, and serene?

Like placid, the words calm, tranquil, and serene all mean "quiet and free from disturbance." Calm conveys a quiet composure that contrasts with surrounding chaos, while tranquil suggests a very deep quietude and peace. Serene is loftier still, carrying a sense of utter peace and happiness. Though placid traces back to Latin placēre, meaning "to please," it isn't always as positive a term as its synonyms. It can imply a lack of agitation rather than a true peace, and it sometimes suggests excessive self-satisfaction or even stupidity.

Choose the Right Synonym for placid

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

Examples of placid in a Sentence

a person with a sunny, placid disposition the placid surface of the lake
Recent Examples on the Web Kalari sits on over eight acres overlooking the placid Lake Paravur. Jane Alexander, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Feb. 2024 She was beguiled by the tropical beauty of the grasslands, where rivers swell during the summers and people lead placid lives on their margins. Ana Karina Zatarain, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2024 Somehow water must pass unscathed from placid molecular clouds through sizzling star-forming disks. Shannon Hall, Scientific American, 23 Feb. 2024 Portrayed with placid stoicism by Linda Amayo-Hassan, mother Bobbie is too proud to ask for advice or even let her family know what’s going on. Sam Hurwitt, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2024 The clouds aren’t placid but constantly on the move, whipping around the planet in two to four days. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Feb. 2024 But, his wife, Kylie Kelce, whose placid expression went viral later, wasn’t as thrilled. Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 9 Feb. 2024 All that excitement came after a placid 2021 when purchasing power swung only 7 percent. Jonathan Lansner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Feb. 2024 Her voice was quiet, and her face—high cheekbones, Roman nose—was placid. Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Latin placidus, from placēre to please — more at please

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of placid was in 1626

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Dictionary Entries Near placid

Cite this Entry

“Placid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/placid. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

placid

adjective
plac·​id ˈplas-əd How to pronounce placid (audio)
: peacefully free of interruption or disturbance : peaceful, calm
a placid disposition
placidity noun
placidly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on placid

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