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Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of serene are calm, peaceful, placid, and tranquil. While all these words mean "quiet and free from disturbance," serene stresses an unclouded and lofty tranquility.

watched the sunset of a serene summer's evening

When could calm be used to replace serene?

The meanings of calm and serene largely overlap; 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 is peaceful a more appropriate choice than serene?

While the synonyms peaceful and serene are close in meaning, peaceful implies a state of repose in contrast with or following strife or turmoil.

grown peaceful in old age

When would placid be a good substitute for serene?

Although the words placid and serene have much in common, placid suggests an undisturbed appearance and often implies a degree of complacency.

remained placid despite the criticism

When is it sensible to use tranquil instead of serene?

The words tranquil and serene are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 serene Natural light streams indoors every morning via floor-to-ceiling windows in the main living area and plenty of skylights, while a paved patio outdoors creates a serene setting for a sunset cocktail around the fire pit. Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 26 Feb. 2025 Imagine writer Zora Neale Hurston, astronaut John Young and serene painter/TV personality Bob Ross at a dinner party. Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2025 Years after catching and almost being killed by Hannibal Lecter, Will is living a serene life on the Florida coast, working on motorboats and watching the postcard-perfect sunrise every morning. S.a. Cosby, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025 See it February 18, 2025 1:46 PM Read Next California Jaw-dropping ocean views captivate at this serene California estate for sale. Tj MacIas, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for serene
Recent Examples of Synonyms for serene
Adjective
  • So rather than maintain the quiet, peaceful sleep environment any young child needs, her daughter found her serenity disrupted by the sound of her mom crashing to the floor having tried to sit on a chair that simply wasn't there.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
  • The Holmdel building was the next step, a gleaming, impeccable prism meant to contain thousands of scientists in splendid quiet isolation.
    Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Both drivers have been relatively calm in the past, but that composure seemed to unravel today.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025
  • The one child was screaming and running up and down, and the other child was really calm and quiet.
    Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • What started off as a tranquil moment of solitude turned into a disaster, as the Labrador showed no understanding of personal space.
    Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Then, there’s the town of Maratea, which is set on a tranquil Tyrrhenian coastline and offers historic accommodations by way of Hotel Santavenere (Sophia Loren and Anita Ekberg both stayed here).
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The Vatican said the pope had a peaceful night and was up, sitting in his armchair on Wednesday receiving therapy.
    Trisha Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
  • The Vatican said the pope had a peaceful night and left his bed to sit in an armchair on Wednesday.
    Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Unexpected challenges, such as economic disruptions or global crises, require leaders to remain composed and responsive.
    Dr. Sharon H. Porter, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
  • The 17-year-old, composed and well prepared, rattled off data about the need for youth involvement in civic decision-making.
    Mará Rose Williams, Kansas City Star, 28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • In the show’s first two seasons, Laura’s murder broke open a placid American town—much as a severed ear, in Lynch’s 1986 film, Blue Velvet, famously undermined middle America’s saintly image of itself.
    K. Austin Collins, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025
  • The Kremlin’s task for 2025, then, is to maintain a placid population.
    Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • With even his sporadic shortness of breath seemingly more a psychological symptom than anything else, the doctor simply prescribes some restful time off — an order that Munir takes as a prompt for an unhurried suicide mission.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 Feb. 2025
  • This idea often doesn’t leave room for restful behavior.
    Leslie D. Rose, Parents, 19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The collected cans are recycled locally, where they’re traded in for market rate for the scrap aluminum.
    Madeline Weinfield, Travel + Leisure, 28 Feb. 2025
  • McKay, whose work is known for comfortable, collected environments, instinctively picked up on that direction and ran with it.
    David Foxley, Architectural Digest, 28 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Serene.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/serene. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.

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