Definition of tranquilnext
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Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of tranquil are calm, peaceful, placid, and serene. While all these words mean "quiet and free from disturbance," tranquil suggests a very deep quietude or composure.

the tranquil beauty of a formal garden

When is it sensible to use calm instead of tranquil?

In some situations, the words calm and tranquil are roughly equivalent. However, 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 could peaceful be used to replace tranquil?

The synonyms peaceful and tranquil are sometimes interchangeable, but peaceful implies a state of repose in contrast with or following strife or turmoil.

grown peaceful in old age

When can placid be used instead of tranquil?

The meanings of placid and tranquil largely overlap; however, placid suggests an undisturbed appearance and often implies a degree of complacency.

remained placid despite the criticism

When is serene a more appropriate choice than tranquil?

The words serene and tranquil are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, serene stresses an unclouded and lofty tranquility.

watched the sunset of a serene summer's evening

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 tranquil Just around the corner from the rally on Tajrish Square, in a tranquil park near the Cinema Museum of Iran, locals perused an open-air book stall and sipped tea, while couples strolled hand in hand. — Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 18 May 2026 Lucy is very isolated in this superficially tranquil domestic setting, separated from friends, far from her mother, dependent on Philip, and not even entirely fluent in German. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026 Turning onto shady Little Road felt instantly tranquil. — Christopher Spata, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026 That earlier film, a languid, unsettling thriller, focused on its protagonist’s emotional breakdown during a supposedly tranquil Mediterranean vacation. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tranquil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tranquil
Adjective
  • With the whizbang action long in the series’ rearview, this quiet road trip proves its emotional centerpiece, as Noah confesses both his true nature and his desire to be better — the conflict of his programming.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • As the market tries to keep the momentum going, a quiet calendar of earnings and economic reports awaits in the week ahead.
    — Zev Fima, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Natural light streams into the galleries, ensuring an atmosphere that's always serene and never stuffy.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Some at the memorial took solace in seeing so many like-minded devotees come out to the serene mountain setting to remember the avian matriarch.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
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
Adjective
  • In that, the vinyl panel turns the 18th-century style on its head, becoming a subversive counterweight to its typically placid, pastoral energy.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The tone continues to be placid, the plunky marimba and steel drum score remains the same, and the performances only grow to feel even more remarkably lived-in as the severity of the situation clicks into place.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Alex just keeps calm, and that’s what Pascal does, more or less, throughout the movie.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The captain's uncle, Kishorbhai Machchhar, told ABC News on Friday that the family still cannot believe how Smit managed to stay so calm and focused.
    — Charlotte Gardiner, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • In other words, get ready to read a lot and yet, surprisingly, to enjoy the immersion, as one might the hushed thrill of a surveillance sequence.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • In their eloquence and their ways of avoiding easy comfort, the poems also deal with the hushed experience of surviving someone else’s death and fulfill the urge to say something not only real and true but formal and exact, as though for a ceremony.
    — Colm Tóibín, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Approved by frequent travelers, this portable device will effectively set your mind at ease when attempting to enjoy a restful vacation away from potential threats and unknown cameras.
    — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Be sure to grab it for your bed to get night after night of restful sleep this fall.
    — Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The Emma style, a more composed and sensible block-heel pump, is for Elinor (Edgar-Jones).
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
  • There’s the person who shows up to the executive team meeting, composed and strategic.
    — Nicole DuBois, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Tranquil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tranquil. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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