Calm vs. Quiet: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on September 18, 2023
"Calm" refers to a peaceful state of mind or environment, often devoid of agitation, while "Quiet" primarily means absence or low levels of sound or noise.
Key Differences
"Calm" is often used to describe a state of mind where there is a lack of agitation or emotional disturbance. "Quiet," on the other hand, is usually employed to refer to an absence of sound or noise.
A "Calm" environment is not necessarily silent; it can have natural or ambient sounds that don't disturb the peacefulness. "Quiet" specifically means low in volume and does not imply emotional or mental tranquility.
Being "Calm" is generally a broader term that can apply to situations, persons, or environments where there's an overall sense of peace or balance. "Quiet" is a more focused term that describes a lack of auditory stimulation.
People often say they're looking for a "Calm" vacation when they want a break that rejuvenates their mind and body. On the contrary, a "Quiet" vacation might simply mean one that is removed from loud or busy settings.
Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Adjective/Noun/Verb
Adjective/Noun/Verb
ADVERTISEMENT
Emotional vs Auditory
Emotional/Mental
Auditory
Environment
Peaceful, Balanced
Low sound level
Human Traits
Mental tranquility
Tends to be silent
Scope
Broader
More specific
Calm and Quiet Definitions
Calm
Peaceful, serene atmosphere.
We relaxed at the calm beach.
ADVERTISEMENT
Quiet
Making little or no noise.
The library is a quiet place.
Calm
Free from agitation or strong emotion.
She remained calm during the crisis.
Quiet
Free from activity or disturbance.
The streets were quiet at night.
Calm
To make peaceful or tranquil.
The music helped to calm her.
Quiet
Lower in volume.
Can you make it a bit more quiet?
Calm
Nearly or completely motionless; undisturbed
The calm surface of the lake.
Quiet
Making or characterized by little or no noise
A quiet library.
A quiet street.
A quiet, well tuned engine.
Calm
Not excited or agitated; composed
The president was calm throughout the global crisis.
Quiet
Free of turmoil and agitation; calm
A quiet lake.
A quiet place in the country.
Calm
An absence or cessation of motion; stillness.
Quiet
Providing or allowing relaxation; restful; soothing
A quiet afternoon nap.
A quiet tune on the flute.
Calm
A condition of no wind or a wind with a speed of less than 1 knot (1.15 miles per hour; 1.9 kilometers per hour), according to the Beaufort scale.
Quiet
Not showy or bright; subdued
A room decorated in quiet colors.
Calm
Tranquility or serenity
"an unaccustomed reticence that I took to be the calm that follows rage" (Jeanne Marie Laskas).
Quiet
Restrained, as in style; understated
A quiet strength.
A quiet life.
Calm
To make or become calm or quiet
A warm bath will calm you. After the storm, the air calmed.
Quiet
Out of public scrutiny; known or discussed by few
Wanted to keep the incident quiet until after the election.
Calm
(of a person) Peaceful, quiet, especially free from anger and anxiety.
Quiet
The quality or condition of being quiet
"A menacing quiet fills the empty streets" (Time).
Calm
(of a place or situation) Free of noise and disturbance.
Quiet
To cause to become quiet
The teacher quieted the students.
Calm
(of water) with few or no waves on the surface; not rippled.
Quiet
To make (a title) secure by freeing from uncertainties or adverse claims as to the ownership.
Calm
Without wind or storm.
Quiet
To become quiet
The child wouldn't quiet down for me.
Calm
(in a person) The state of being calm; peacefulness; absence of worry, anger, fear or other strong negative emotion.
Quiet
With little or no sound; free of disturbing noise.
I can't hear the music; it is too quiet.
Calm
(in a place or situation) The state of being calm; absence of noise and disturbance.
Quiet
Having little motion or activity; calm.
The sea was quiet
A quiet night at home
All quiet on the Western front
Calm
A period of time without wind.
Quiet
Not busy, of low quantity.
The traffic was quiet for a Monday morning.
Business was quiet for the season.
Calm
(transitive) To make calm.
To calm a crying baby
To calm the passions
Quiet
Not talking much or not talking loudly; reserved.
He's a very quiet man usually, but is very chatty after a few beers.
Calm
(intransitive) To become calm.
Quiet
Not showy; undemonstrative.
A quiet dress
Quiet colours
A quiet movement
Calm
Freedom from motion, agitation, or disturbance; a cessation or absence of that which causes motion or disturbance, as of winds or waves; tranquility; stillness; quiet; serenity.
The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
A calm before a storm is commonly a peace of a man's own making.
Quiet
(software) Requiring little or no interaction.
A quiet install
Calm
To make calm; to render still or quiet, as elements; as, to calm the winds.
To calm the tempest raised by Eolus.
Quiet
(transitive) To cause (someone or something) to become quiet.
Can you quiet your child? He’s making lots of noise.
The umpire quieted the crowd so the game could continue in peace.
Calm
To deliver from agitation or excitement; to still or soothe, as the mind or passions.
Passions which seem somewhat calmed.
Quiet
(intransitive) To become quiet or calm.
When you quiet, we can start talking.
Calm
Not stormy; without motion, as of winds or waves; still; quiet; serene; undisturbed.
Now all is calm, and fresh, and still.
Quiet
The absence of sound; quietness.
There was a strange quiet in the normally very lively plaza.
We need a bit of quiet before we can start the show.
Calm
Undisturbed by passion or emotion; not agitated or excited; tranquil; quiet in act or speech.
Such calm old age as conscience pureAnd self-commanding hearts ensure.
Quiet
The absence of movement; stillness, tranquility.
Calm
Steadiness of mind under stress;
He accepted their problems with composure and she with equanimity
Quiet
The absence of disturbance or trouble; peace, security.
Calm
Make calm or still;
Quiet the dragons of worry and fear
Quiet
Be quiet.
Quiet! The children are sleeping.
Calm
Make steady;
Steady yourself
Quiet
In a state of rest or calm; without stir, motion, or agitation; still; as, a quiet sea; quiet air.
They . . . were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.
Calm
Become quiet or calm, especially after a state of agitation;
After the fight both men need to cool off.
It took a while after the baby was born for things to settle down again.
Quiet
Free from noise or disturbance; hushed; still.
Calm
Cause to be calm or quiet as by administering a sedative to;
The patient must be sedated before the operation
Quiet
Not excited or anxious; calm; peaceful; placid; settled; as, a quiet life; a quiet conscience.
That son, who on the quiet state of manSuch trouble brought.
Calm
Not agitated; without losing self-possession;
Spoke in a calm voice
Remained calm throughout the uproar
Quiet
Not giving offense; not exciting disorder or trouble; not turbulent; gentle; mild; meek; contented.
The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.
I will sit as quiet as a lamb.
Calm
Characterized by absence of emotional agitation;
Calm acceptance of the inevitable
Remained serene in the midst of turbulence
A serene expression on her face
She became more tranquil
Tranquil life in the country
Quiet
Not showy; not such as to attract attention; undemonstrative; as, a quiet dress; quiet colors; a quiet movement.
Calm
(of weather) free from storm or wind;
Calm seas
Quiet
The quality or state of being quiet, or in repose; as an hour or a time of quiet.
Calm
Marked by freedom from agitation or excitement;
The rioters gradually became calm and slowly dispersed
Quiet
Freedom from disturbance, noise, or alarm; stillness; tranquillity; peace; security.
And join with thee, calm Peace and Quiet.
Calm
Not showing or feeling nervousness.
He was calm during the job interview.
Quiet
To stop motion in; to still; to reduce to a state of rest, or of silence.
Calm
Without rough motion; still or nearly still.
The sea was calm today.
Quiet
To calm; to appease; to pacify; to lull; to allay; to tranquillize; as, to quiet the passions; to quiet clamors or disorders; to quiet pain or grief.
Quiet yourselves, I pray, and be at peace.
Quiet
To become still, silent, or calm; - often with down; as, be soon quieted down.
Quiet
A period of calm weather;
There was a lull in the storm
Quiet
An untroubled state; free from disturbances
Quiet
The absence of sound;
He needed silence in order to sleep
The street was quiet
Quiet
A disposition free from stress or emotion
Quiet
Become quiet or quieter;
The audience fell silent when the speaker entered
Quiet
Make calm or still;
Quiet the dragons of worry and fear
Quiet
Characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity;
A quiet life
A quiet throng of onlookers
Quiet peace-loving people
The factions remained quiet for almost 10 years
Quiet
Free of noise or uproar; or making little if any sound;
A quiet audience at the concert
The room was dark and quiet
Quiet
Not showy or obtrusive;
Clothes in quiet good taste
Quiet
In a softened tone;
Hushed voices
Muted trumpets
A subdued whisper
A quiet reprimand
Quiet
Without untoward incident or disruption;
A placid existence
Quiet times
Quiet
Free from disturbance;
A ribbon of sand between the angry sea and the placid bay
The quiet waters of a lagoon
A lake of tranquil blue water reflecting a tranquil blue sky
A smooth channel crossing
Scarcely a ripple on the still water
Unruffled water
Quiet
Of the sun; characterized by a low level of surface phenomena like sun spots e.g.
Quiet
With little or no activity or no agitation (`quiet' is a nonstandard variant for `quietly');
Her hands rested quietly in her lap
The rock star was quietly led out the back door
Sit here as quiet as you can
Quiet
Carried out discreetly or secretly.
He made a quiet exit.
Quiet
Of a person, reserved or introverted.
She was a quiet person.
FAQs
What does Quiet mean?
Quiet refers to a lack or low level of sound or noise.
Can a person be both Calm and Quiet?
Yes, a person can be both calm in demeanor and quiet in speech.
What does Calm mean?
Calm refers to a peaceful, undisturbed state, either mentally or environmentally.
Is Calm the same as Quiet?
No, calm often pertains to emotional or mental peace, while quiet relates to lack of sound.
Is Calm a noun?
Calm can be a noun, adjective, or verb, depending on the context.
Is Quiet an adjective?
Quiet can be an adjective, noun, or verb.
Is Quiet always peaceful?
Quiet can be peaceful but may also be eerie or unsettling in certain contexts.
Can you be Quiet but not Calm?
Yes, you can be quiet but still feel internal emotional or mental turmoil.
Can Calm be momentary?
Yes, calm can be a temporary state of peace or tranquility.
Can a place be both Calm and Quiet?
Yes, a place can be both calm in atmosphere and quiet in sound level.
Does Calm always mean the absence of noise?
No, calm can exist even with background noise if it doesn't disturb peace.
Can music be Calm but not Quiet?
Yes, music can have a calming effect but still have varying levels of volume.
Do Calm and Quiet have antonyms?
Yes, the antonym for calm could be "agitated," and for quiet could be "loud."
Is Quiet relative?
Yes, what is considered quiet can vary between individuals and situations.
Can Calm refer to weather?
Yes, calm can describe weather conditions that are peaceful and without strong winds or storms.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
