as in dove
a person who opposes war or warlike policies
a committed pacifist, Gandhi succeeded in bringing about Indian independence using only nonviolence
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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or pacifistic
as in neutral
inclined to live in peace and to avoid war
the newspaper's editorial board has clearly staked out a pacifist position on the current conflict
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pacifist
Iveta Silova, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2025
Marchand has crossed lines by licking players, or repeatedly punching a hockey pacifist like Vancouver’s Daniel Sedin in a final series.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2025
John Fischer, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Known for conservative positions such as revising the pacifist constitution, Takaichi is a regular visitor to the Yasukuni shrine to honour Japan's war dead, viewed by Beijing and others as a symbol of past militarism.
—Kaori Kaneko, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pacifist
Noun
Even before seizing national power in 1933, the Nazi Party was closely monitoring German universities through nationalist student groups and sympathetic faculty, flagging professors deemed politically unreliable – particularly Jews, Marxists, liberals and pacifists.
—Iveta Silova, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2025
Marchand has crossed lines by licking players, or repeatedly punching a hockey pacifist like Vancouver’s Daniel Sedin in a final series.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Such an overgrown standing army is undesirable, not on pacifist grounds, but purely from the standpoint of military efficiency.
—John Fischer, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Known for conservative positions such as revising the pacifist constitution, Takaichi is a regular visitor to the Yasukuni shrine to honour Japan's war dead, viewed by Beijing and others as a symbol of past militarism.
—Kaori Kaneko, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pacifist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pacifist
Noun
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Would our kind hosts have either doves or quail?—
Jack O'Connor,
Outdoor Life,
23 Oct. 2025
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Neither Sadat nor Begin were innocents or doves.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Available in 18 neutral and vibrant colors, the crossbody purse has received no shortage of rave reviews.—
Asia London Palomba,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
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For a more neutral option, Walmart has grey, black, brown and tan draft stoppers.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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If peaceable trading isn't your dream, consider the corsair life, pillaging other ships for their precious cargo.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
7 Oct. 2025
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In fact, as believing Christians, Jews, or Muslims know, the founders and leaders of these major world religions advocate understanding of others, empathy for their suffering, and the pursuit of peaceable relations with all.—
Howard Steele,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Courtesy: Apple Apple on Tuesday sent invites to the media and analysts for a launch event at its campus on September 9 at 10 A.M pacific time.—
Kif Leswing,
CNBC,
26 Aug. 2025
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My late grandfather, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, served in the pacific campaign.—
Simon Perry,
People.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pacifist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pacifist. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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