placidly

Meanings

1. 1adverbnot comparable

   In a calm, quiet way that shows no worry, anger or excitement.

   Grammar: Describes how someone acts: she waited placidly. It usually follows the verb.

   Patterns

   • sit placidly
   • smile placidly
   • wait placidly

   The cows grazed placidly in the meadow.

   He listened placidly while the crowd shouted around him.

   She smiled placidly and went on knitting.

2. 2adverbnot comparabledisapproving

   In a way that seems calm but may show a lack of interest or reaction to something that ought to matter.

   Grammar: Can hint mild criticism when a reaction would be expected.

   Patterns

   • accept something placidly
   • watch placidly

   The manager placidly accepted the news that the project was cancelled.

   They watched placidly as the argument grew louder.

   He placidly ignored every warning.

Common combinations

smile placidly

The old man smiled placidly at the visitors.

sit placidly

The cat sat placidly in the sun.

graze placidly

Sheep grazed placidly on the hillside.

accept placidly

She accepted the delay placidly.

float placidly

Ducks floated placidly on the pond.

Synonyms and how they differ

calmly

Calmly is the everyday word and often implies effort to stay controlled, while placidly suggests a naturally peaceful manner.

serenely

Serenely adds a graceful, untroubled feeling that placidly does not always carry.

peacefully

Peacefully focuses on quiet and lack of conflict in the surroundings or the action.

complacently

Complacently adds a criticism of being too satisfied, which placidly only sometimes hints at.

Opposites

Word family

placid adjective

calm and not easily upset

placidity noun

the quality of being calm

placidness noun

calmness of nature

implacable adjective

impossible to calm or please

Commonly confused: placidly or plaintively?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “placidly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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