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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Recent Examples of pacifist
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Mar. 2024
The ideological conflict between Xavier and Magneto has often been distilled down to one similar to that of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, with Xavier being a pacifist and Magneto being aggressive and dictatorial.
—Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Mar. 2024
Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune Asia, 27 Sep. 2024
The United States, however, has broken from France to advocate for a more pacifist response.
—Hannah Rae Armstrong, Foreign Affairs, 29 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for pacifist 
Noun
As a young revolutionary during the 1896 fight against Spain and then as a soldier fighting against the Americans, Tomas had witnessed the effects of violence on people and become a pacifist.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Mar. 2024
The ideological conflict between Xavier and Magneto has often been distilled down to one similar to that of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, with Xavier being a pacifist and Magneto being aggressive and dictatorial.
—Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Mar. 2024
Adjective
During his term, Kishida has taken steps to double Japan’s defense spending, opening the door for military exports as the LDP seeks to revise the pacifist post-war constitution.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune Asia, 27 Sep. 2024
The United States, however, has broken from France to advocate for a more pacifist response.
—Hannah Rae Armstrong, Foreign Affairs, 29 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for pacifist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pacifist
Noun
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At least 10 birds — including ducks, geese and a zebra dove — were reported dead on the property on Nov. 12 and were then sent for confirmatory testing.Angelica Stabile, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2024
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About 100,000 people gathered as airplanes circled overhead, doves were released and patriotic music ringed through the ears of attendees.Graham Hurley, CNN, 16 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Snoop Dogg stayed neutral during the rap battle that popped off earlier this year between Drake and Kendrick Lamar.Angel Diaz, Billboard, 20 Nov. 2024
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For her debut spring 2025 collection, Waksal worked with lightweight and fluid materials in neutral tones (black, ivory, dusty gray, bone, army green and white) across mix-and-match styles that can easily move and be layered.Emily Mercer, WWD, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Trump returns to White House for symbolic meeting President-elect Donald Trump will meet with President Joe Biden today in a symbolic White House ceremony meant to signal the peaceful transfer of power.Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
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The system proved incapable of punishing Trump personally for his concerted, multifaceted refusal to accept his defeat and accept a peaceful transfer of power in 2020.Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The most formidable obstacle to a peaceable refuge was the double-decker section of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway that hugs the cliff below Brooklyn Heights.Justin Davidson, Curbed, 3 July 2024
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In one study, 18 percent of patients flew, sang, danced, laughed, lectured or enacted other peaceable activities.Diana Kwon, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2023
Adjective
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Choose between two rich colors: pacific blue or yarrow gold.Sydney Gore, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2024
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Because roughly half the population there are Seventh-Day Adventists, and their interpretation of the Bible in regards to eating animals is a pacific one.Danny Palumbo / The Takeout, Quartz, 24 Mar. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near pacifist
Cite this Entry
“Pacifist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pacifist. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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