placid
adjective
plac·id ˈpla-səd 
: serenely free of interruption or disturbance
placid skies
a placid disposition
also : complacent sense 1
placidity
pla-ˈsi-də-tē
noun plə-
placidly
ˈpla-səd-lē
adverb placidness noun
Did you know?
What is the Difference Between placid, calm, tranquil, and serene?
Like placid, the words calm, tranquil, and serene all mean "quiet and free from disturbance." Calm conveys a quiet composure that contrasts with surrounding chaos, while tranquil suggests a very deep quietude and peace. Serene is loftier still, carrying a sense of utter peace and happiness. Though placid traces back to Latin placēre, meaning "to please," it isn't always as positive a term as its synonyms. It can imply a lack of agitation rather than a true peace, and it sometimes suggests excessive self-satisfaction or even stupidity.
Synonyms
- calm
- collected
- composed
- cool
- coolheaded
- equal
- level
- limpid
- peaceful
- possessed
- recollected
- sedate
- self-composed
- self-possessed
- serene
- smooth
- together
- tranquil
- undisturbed
- unperturbed
- unruffled
- unshaken
- untroubled
- unworried
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a person with a sunny, placid disposition the placid surface of the lake
Recent Examples on the Web The normally placid Taurus Moon then meets shocking Uranus, offering truly unexpected opportunities to pursue pleasure. 
Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2022 Some investors who specialize in the normally placid agency market are raising new funds to buy up bonds on the cheap. Matt Wirz, WSJ, 31 May 2022 The Potomac River is a broad, usually placid estuary whose disposition abruptly turns feral just beyond Georgetown. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2022 Korean competition prize winner this Spring, carried by Kim Geumsoon’s central performance, a portrait of the devastating effect of workplace cyber-shaming on the placid life of a middle-aged mother who’s a food-processing factory worker. John Hopewell, Variety, 28 July 2022 The ruin appears to burst from the gallery floor like the cathedral of Ys, rising high toward the lofty ceiling, and disrupting the room’s placid, crystalline design. Steven Litt, cleveland, 24 July 2022 As for the collective remnants of the once hellhound Geto Boys, Wille and ‘Face currently co-host the remarkably placid podcast Geto Boys Reloaded. Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 28 June 2022 The artwork can be telling; older Ukrainian students’ depictions of a seemingly placid forested landscape were mainly executed in dark, brooding tones. Laura Kingstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2022 Alessandro Allori shows her placid and blank, seemingly bored by her kidnapping. New York Times, 29 Mar. 2022 See More
Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2022 Some investors who specialize in the normally placid agency market are raising new funds to buy up bonds on the cheap. Matt Wirz, WSJ, 31 May 2022 The Potomac River is a broad, usually placid estuary whose disposition abruptly turns feral just beyond Georgetown. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2022 Korean competition prize winner this Spring, carried by Kim Geumsoon’s central performance, a portrait of the devastating effect of workplace cyber-shaming on the placid life of a middle-aged mother who’s a food-processing factory worker. John Hopewell, Variety, 28 July 2022 The ruin appears to burst from the gallery floor like the cathedral of Ys, rising high toward the lofty ceiling, and disrupting the room’s placid, crystalline design. Steven Litt, cleveland, 24 July 2022 As for the collective remnants of the once hellhound Geto Boys, Wille and ‘Face currently co-host the remarkably placid podcast Geto Boys Reloaded. Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 28 June 2022 The artwork can be telling; older Ukrainian students’ depictions of a seemingly placid forested landscape were mainly executed in dark, brooding tones. Laura Kingstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2022 Alessandro Allori shows her placid and blank, seemingly bored by her kidnapping. New York Times, 29 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin placidus, from placēre to please — more at please
First Known Use
1626, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
placid
adjective
plac·id ˈpla-səd
: calm and peaceful
a placid face
a placid lake
placidity
noun
1
as in restfulness
a state of freedom from storm or disturbance the placidity of the area makes it a perfect vacation spot for people who just want to relax Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- restfulness
- serenity
- sereneness
- quietness
- quiet
- calm
- calmness
- quietude
- tranquility
- tranquillity
- peacefulness
- silence
- stillness
- peace
- hush
- still
- repose
- lull
- respite
- harmony
- concord
- casualness
- pause
- comity
- informality
- mildness
- relaxedness
- soothingness
- easygoingness
- laid-backness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- tumult
- unrest
- turmoil
- bustle
- commotion
- hubbub
- pandemonium
- hurly-burly
- noise
- unquietness
- uproar
- clamor
- din
- racket
2
as in composure
evenness of emotions or temper his evident lack of placidity makes him poorly suited for such a stressful job Synonyms & Similar Words
- composure
- calmness
- equanimity
- collectedness
- imperturbability
- serenity
- tranquility
- coolness
- tranquillity
- sangfroid
- equilibrium
- countenance
- aplomb
- composedness
- self-possession
- repose
- tranquilness
- confidence
- impassivity
- cool
- assurance
- indifference
- self-composedness
- poise
- unconcern
- self-assuredness
- self-assurance
- easygoingness
- apathy
- detachment
- numbness
- insensibility
- self-confidence
- phlegm
- self-trust
- laid-backness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- agitation
- perturbation
- anxiety
- discomposure
- uneasiness
- solicitude
- disquiet
- concern
- apprehension
- care
- anxiousness
- nervousness
- alarm
- excitability
- worry
- apprehensiveness
- disturbance
- alarum
- excitableness
3
as in peacefulness
freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions her apparent placidity belied an inner turmoil as she faced a life-altering decision Synonyms & Similar Words
- peacefulness
- peace
- serenity
- sereneness
- calmness
- calm
- tranquility
- ease
- tranquillity
- heartsease
- contentment
- quietude
- comfort
- relief
- quiet
- solace
- content
- consolation
- repose
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- anxiety
- agitation
- anguish
- uneasiness
- apprehension
- vexation
- concern
- perturbation
- tension
- stress
- alarm
- care
- worry
- apprehensiveness
- disturbance
- strain
- anxiousness
- distress
- discomfort
- nervousness
- consternation
- desperation
- tenseness
- alarum
- fear
- dismay
- distraction
- discomposure
- uncertainty
- torment
- jumpiness
- edginess
- suspense
- doubt
- desperateness
- upset
- fearfulness
- foreboding
- dread
- jitters
- misgiving
- presentiment
- incertitude
- technetronic
- technic
- technical
- technical difficulties
- technical estoppel
- technical felony
- technical foul
- technical knockout
- technical point
- technical sergeant
- technical support
- technical traverse
- technical/tech support
- technicalisation
- technicalise
- technicalises
- technicalism
- technicalist
- technicalities
- technicality
- technicalization
- technicalizations
- technicalize
- technicalized
- technicalizes