calm 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of calmnext
1
as in quiet
free from storms or physical disturbance after a stormy night of high winds and driving rains, the day dawned on a calm sea

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2
as in serene
free from emotional or mental agitation bystanders tried to help the injured person remain calm while they waited for the ambulance to arrive

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3
as in peaceful
free from disturbing noise or uproar the room became much calmer once the rowdy tour group had left

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calm

2 of 3

noun

ˈkäm How to pronounce calm (audio)
1
as in restfulness
a state of freedom from storm or disturbance vacationing city dwellers who are tired of the hustle and bustle enjoy the calm of the secluded mountain village

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2
as in peace
freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions the batter always exudes an aura of calm, even in clutch situations

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calm

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to soothe
to free from distress or disturbance the president's reassuring words did much to calm the public during the national emergency

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2
as in to contain
to gain emotional or mental control of he calmed himself before continuing the eulogy

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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
Parolin addressed Leo's surgery early Tuesday, expressing concern, while praising Pope Leo’s calm manner. — Tiago Ventura, Time, 14 Oct. 2026 Nord Stream 1 was announced in 1997, when relations between the West and post-Soviet Russia were relatively calm, and became operational in 2011. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
Noun
Relative calm after a 2022 ceasefire ended in July, when the Houthis resumed attacks, saying the Saudis fired on the Sanaa airport as a plane from Iran was trying to land. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 11 Oct. 2026 But the insistence on projecting calm is starting to backfire. — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Verb
Tina hoped that a family vacation would calm Griffith’s nerves, but Griffith was on edge. — Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 14 Oct. 2026 Minervini calmed down from there, delivering a more graceful goodbye. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for calm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calm
  1. quiet
  2. serene
  3. peaceful
  4. restfulness
  5. peace
  6. soothe
  7. contain
  8. tranquil
Adjective
  • Firms that know exactly where the line sits hold quiet advantages their competitors cannot purchase or replicate.
    — Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Glass admitted that as a young producer, he was intimidated by Adams and his quiet confidence.
    — Scott Detrow, NPR, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of quiet
Adjective
  • Reinhardt’s reporting points to the overuse of grammatical structures and specific words, such as serene or careful, which LLM’s tend to use more frequently than humans.
    — Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Other previous winners include a school in rural Brazil, a university in Lima, Peru, and a serene hospital in a remote, flood-prone area of Bangladesh.
    — Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of serene
Adjective
  • But this month, the most violent demonstrations in years — and tough policing — have raised concern about riots overshadowing hundreds of thousands of peaceful demonstrators marching against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • As for the suites, the highlight is their private terraces, peaceful havens from which to admire, paradoxically, the urban whirlwind swirling below.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of peaceful
Noun
  • The proof was in my Oura ring sleep score—96% and optimal restfulness.
    — Brianna Peters, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2026
  • But restfulness dropped—my body noticed the break.
    — Marisa McMillan, Outside, 29 Dec. 2025
Definition of restfulness
Noun
  • Witkoff's latest round of shuttle diplomacy comes amid intensifying White House pressure on Zelenskyy to make concessions to secure a peace deal with Moscow.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Kremlin would be ready to resume trilateral Russia-US-Ukraine peace talks after mid-November, at the request of US special envoy Steve Witkoff who met with Putin for around three hours Wednesday.
    — Arina Porkhovnik, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of peace
Verb
  • On top of that, the plugs offer passive isolation (the seal of the bud) and adaptive sound masking (soothing audio tracks that help cover up your beloved’s snoring).
    — Jessica Sager, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The restaurant on the ground floor features red brick arches, midcentury sconces and a soothing interior with plush beige armchairs and warm wood accents.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of soothe
Verb
  • Shauf quit drinking in 2020, and while The Party contains its fair share of drunken regret, alcohol is a more central subject on the afterparty’s other two outtakes.
    — Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The medical response has focused largely on treating and containing the disease, with little to no attention to the mental health of those affected.
    — Constant Same Bagalwa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of contain
Adjective
  • Bedrooms are tranquil and restorative, with clean lines, balconies, and mountain views that create a sense of space.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026
  • Located right across the water from Miami, Key Biscayne is filled with tranquil experiences in nature, delicious dining options with incredible views of the water, and even a little bit of history to explore.
    — Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 13 June 2026
Definition of tranquil

Phrases Containing calm

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callusing
calm
calm (down)
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Cite this Entry

“Calm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calm. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on calm

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about calm

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