peacenik

noun

peace·​nik ˈpēs-ˌnik How to pronounce peacenik (audio)
: an opponent of war
specifically : one who participates in antiwar demonstrations

Examples of peacenik in a Sentence

peaceniks argued that all the nonmilitary options had not been exhausted
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Burdick, a lifelong peacenik with a neat white beard, had moved to Saudi Arabia from Texas in the mid-nineties. Heidi Blake, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2024 Kelly is in almost immediately, flying to Cocoa Beach in Florida with her not-so-enthusiastic assistant, an anti-Nixon peacenik. Damon Wise, Deadline, 8 July 2024 At this point, John Lennon is either a peacenik saint or a wife-beating villain in the eyes of most. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2024 Francis is neither an idealistic peacenik nor a Machiavellian. Victor Gaetan, Foreign Affairs, 25 Sep. 2015 This Einstein is a fervent peacenik who saw in Nazi Germany an existential threat to peace everywhere, and to Jewish people in particular. Chris Vognar, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2024 That’s the debate between hawkish military officers, embodied by Devid Striesow, and more pragmatic politicians trying to negotiate an armistice, including the real-life character of Matthias Erzberger (Daniel Brühl), here portrayed as a peacenik motivated by the death of his son. Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 12 Oct. 2022 Age peacenik attitude of Posdnous and Trugoy’s lyrics. Al Shipley, SPIN, 16 Feb. 2023 Has this latter-day John D. Rockefeller found his inner peacenik? Alexander Sammon, The New Republic, 28 Aug. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of peacenik was in 1962

Dictionary Entries Near peacenik

Cite this Entry

“Peacenik.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peacenik. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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