pacifist 1 of 2

noun

ˈpa-sə-fist How to pronounce pacifist (audio)
Definition of pacifistnext
as in dove
a person who opposes war or warlike policies a committed pacifist, Gandhi succeeded in bringing about Indian independence using only nonviolence

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pacifist

2 of 2

adjective

variants or pacifistic
as in pacific
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

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 pacifist
Noun
His father, Kenneth, was a pacifist and a conscientious objector in World War II, which made the family somewhat outcast in its small hometown. — Barbara Isenberg, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026 The Anabaptists were a radical nonconformist sect that took the egalitarian, pacifist, and renunciatory injunctions of the Bible seriously and tried to organize communal living, before being ruthlessly persecuted by the authorities and other Protestant sects. — Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
From the other side of the ideological spectrum, anti-Nazis interpreted the tolerant and pacifist spirit of the film as a rebuke to Nazi eugenics and militarism. — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2026 His ideas are later used to discourage violently spearing food with a knife, and instead promote the pacifist chopstick. — New York Times, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pacifist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pacifist
  1. dove
  2. pacific
  3. peaceful
  4. neutral
Noun
  • Hila Gaier, who was on the flight, said that when the plane dove passengers couldn't move.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Willis followed her mother’s lead in a dove-gray Thom Browne skirt suit accented with red-and-white striping.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of dove
Adjective
  • National Aquarium cams The National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland, operates a series of cameras of marine animals, including reef sharks, jellyfish and fish in a Pacific coral reef.
    — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 1 June 2026
  • These conditions tend to suppress Atlantic hurricane development, whereas the eastern and central Pacific hurricane seasons are typically more active during strong El Niño events.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 1 June 2026
Definition of pacific
Adjective
  • National Historical Park comprising his birth home, a peaceful rose garden, and the King Center.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • While refuting any suggestion of police repression, Lecornu condemned violence on the margins of protests, which were mostly peaceful Tuesday, despite the dramatic scenes that dominated coverage.
    — Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of peaceful
Adjective
  • The lineup is generally made up of Ikea’s signature neutral tones like pine, black, and white, and highlighted with pops of Xbox green.
    — Bee Wertheimer, PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Piper Sandler upgrades Alerus Financial to overweight from neutral Piper says the regional bank has EPS upside.
    — Michael Bloom, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of neutral

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Pacifist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pacifist. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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