as in dove
a person who opposes war or warlike policies
a committed pacifist, Gandhi succeeded in bringing about Indian independence using only nonviolence
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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or pacifistic
as in neutral
inclined to live in peace and to avoid war
the newspaper's editorial board has clearly staked out a pacifist position on the current conflict
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pacifist
Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
The anti-expansionist response united pacifists, abolitionists and a variety of religious and literary figures, helping deepen the divides that would lead to the Civil War.
—G. Patrick O'Brien, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2025
Stephanie Saul, New York Times, 20 May 2025
The presence of the deeply pacifist Tagore, who was known for his vision of pan-Asian unity, fanned the debate on how Vietnam’s revolutionaries should chart a future without the French.
—H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pacifist
Noun
Shoshone chief Winter Bird (Irene Bedard) is a pacifist dealing with young braves too eager to fight.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
The anti-expansionist response united pacifists, abolitionists and a variety of religious and literary figures, helping deepen the divides that would lead to the Civil War.
—G. Patrick O'Brien, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Image Matthew Lindsey, president of the Kansas Independent College Association, hopes the religious exemption will ultimately protect McPherson, which was founded by the Church of the Brethren, a pacifist Protestant denomination.
—Stephanie Saul, New York Times, 20 May 2025
The presence of the deeply pacifist Tagore, who was known for his vision of pan-Asian unity, fanned the debate on how Vietnam’s revolutionaries should chart a future without the French.
—H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pacifist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pacifist
Noun
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With the arrival of these three new individuals, Parque das Aves is now home to six blue-eyed ground doves.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2025
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Like the elf owl, the Socorro dove suffered heavily from cat predation and habitat loss.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
Adjective
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Fifty-one percent disapproved, while 33% were neutral.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
26 July 2025
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The camera bag is available in Toasted Hazelnut Multi (neutral tones), Black Multi, Squash Blossom Multi, Terracotta Tile Multi (pink and orange), and Sage Bundle Multi.—
Gabriela Izquierdo,
Southern Living,
26 July 2025
Adjective
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The garden that lined the walkway between the two offered a peaceful sitting area for the first family.—
Kyler Alvord,
People.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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This was an awesome example of a peaceful gathering, celebrating our free speech without interfering with automobile or pedestrian traffic.—
Naperville Sun,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Such was the peaceable dreaming, the end-of-history thinking, in the wake of the Twelve-Day War.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
28 July 2025
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Trump’s narrow nationalism does not seem more peaceable than internationalism.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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Xi must know that old societies tend to be pacific and that China is getting old fast.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
23 Dec. 2024
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Their awards show is today, Saturday, at 12 noon pacific time.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pacifist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pacifist. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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