Choose the Right Word
calm, serene, tranquil, placid, peaceful
All these words indicate a freedom from disturbance or agitation, and all are used of people, concrete nouns, such as water, and abstract nouns, such as look.
Someone who is calm remains unperturbed in a worrying or frightening situation ( you were wonderful, coping with all of us and always calm). Calm is often applied to a place where fighting or unrest is normal but is absent or has died down, and is the word most commonly used in connection with weather, to describe the sea, day, weather, or sky.
Serene suggests that a person has an inner calm and is used to describe their appearance or behaviour (the serene beauty of her delicate golden face belied her years | an attitude of serene detachment). It is also used of places that are relaxed, free from strife, and untouched by human cares (charming properties of character await - secluded, historic and serene | Cologne is a city of serene parks).
Tranquil is most commonly used of places that are relaxingly free from noise or disturbance - a setting, scene, village, or garden, in particular. It is also used to describe people or their lives (most people over twenty never have a tranquil moment).
Someone with a placid nature is not easily worried or upset (a placid, contented family man | her usually placid temper began to stir). Placid can have critical overtones, suggesting that someone is slow to react and rather dull (moderate voters of placid and unreflective temperament). Placid is also used to describe animals and children with a quiet, docile nature, as well as areas of calm water, such as a bay, sea, or canal.
Peaceful most commonly refers to an absence of conflict or aggression (a peaceful solution to the Saharan conflict | 400,000 people participated in a peaceful demonstration).
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