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calm

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noun

calm

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verb

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of calm are peaceful, placid, serene, and tranquil. While all these words 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

When is peaceful a more appropriate choice than calm?

In some situations, the words peaceful and calm are roughly equivalent. However, peaceful implies a state of repose in contrast with or following strife or turmoil.

grown peaceful in old age

When might placid be a better fit than calm?

The words placid and calm can be used in similar contexts, but placid suggests an undisturbed appearance and often implies a degree of complacency.

remained placid despite the criticism

When would serene be a good substitute for calm?

Although the words serene and calm have much in common, serene stresses an unclouded and lofty tranquility.

watched the sunset of a serene summer's evening

When can tranquil be used instead of calm?

The synonyms tranquil and calm are sometimes interchangeable, but tranquil suggests a very deep quietude or composure.

the tranquil beauty of a formal garden

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 calm
Adjective
The main villa, completed in 2022 by Bernhard Rustige of Ibizaliving, reflects the studio’s signature approach to proportion and calm. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025 Few experiences rival the calm satisfaction of falling asleep easily and waking up feeling fully rested. Daryl Austin, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
Yerneni admits to struggling with flight anxiety herself, describing how witnessing her intern’s calm was unexpectedly reassuring. Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025 Light west winds increase to 5-10 mph in the morning and calm again in the evening. Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
Create a wind-down routine, such as reading, journaling, or listening to calming music. Kris Ann Valdez, Parents, 22 Oct. 2025 The truth is, there’s solid science behind ginger’s gut-calming powers. Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for calm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calm
Adjective
  • With stunning celerity, possibility becomes probability and then certainty, as readers reject the quiet, circuitous, and unglamorous narratives of prudential compromise, ambiguous diplomacy, or incremental progress.
    Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Still, this isn’t about contemplation or quiet reflection.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Imposing granite cliff faces like Half Dome and El Capitan, serene meadows and forests, and the picturesque Merced River, all tend to come to mind.
    Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Researchers at the University of Arizona later observed that green light—which is strongly reflected at us by plants—also triggers a release of natural opioids, promoting a serene state.
    Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Both cities had become key fronts in the conflict after Assad’s forces began cracking down on peaceful protesters the previous year.
    Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
  • The 58-year-old Cooper hung up two black-and-white portraits of his father two days ago in his cozy Manhattan office, that looks less like an office and more like a peaceful nook.
    David Oliver, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Blake has just escaped rehab to return home, but the peace of his household is soon disrupted by a series of unwelcome visitors.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Man, if the vibe of the late Sixties and the early Seventies was the pervading spirit of the day, then let peace and love win!
    Jay Glennie, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The cool temperature may also soothe sore gums.
    Lindsay Curtis, Health, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Aloe vera instantly soothes dryness, while jojoba, camellia, and almond oils keep your lips plush, soft, and supported.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Comparable in size to the Arc de Triomphe, the Porte Monumentale also contained surface ornamentation based on Haeckel’s exacting lifelong documentation of organisms to be found in the world’s oceans.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Along with the remains, deputies found a backpack with clothes inside, a water bottle and a diary that didn’t contain any writing that helped in identifying the woman, according to a news release by the DNA Doe Project.
    Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The tranquil, upscale neighborhood of Pacific Palisades was devastated by the wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles County in January, destroying thousands of structures—including the home of celebrities such as Jeff Bridges, Paris Hilton, and Billy Crystal.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Out-of-towners were enjoying the warm weather and music on an outdoor deck at the American Fish Company in Southport, a small and tranquil city near the mouth of the Cape Fear River, when gunshots rang out.
    Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Senne Lammens continuing his composed start to his United career could at least counteract those types of chances for Brighton, while Amorim’s defenders will need to be astute to the movement of Hurzeler’s front-line.
    Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Only on particularly bumpy tarmac did the GTS-spec suspension become too jarring with the adaptive dampers stiffened up in sport mode, but switching them to normal offered the best of both worlds—excellent, composed body control and tuning that ironed out imperfections remarkably well.
    Peter Nelson, Robb Report, 1 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Calm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calm. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

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