ataraxia · noun — tranquility of mind; absence of mental disturbance. It carries an Arena rating of 1753, earned across 12 head-to-head judged battles.
Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, ataraxia ranks #1,301 of 17,164 for Most Beautiful Words, #1,427 of 17,162 for Most Elegant Words, #3,650 of 17,165 for Most Satisfying to Say, #4,242 of 17,176 for Most Incisive Words.
ataraxia is pronounced /ætəˈɹæksiə/.
Why “ataraxia” is a great word
A state of serene calmness and tranquility of mind, characterized by freedom from mental disturbance. From Ancient Greek ἀταραξία (ataraxía), from ἀ- (a-, negative prefix) + ταράσσω (tarássō, 'to trouble, disturb'), first recorded in English use c. 1600. Unlike 'apathy,' which implies a vacant absence of concern, or 'serenity,' which suggests a passive, generalized peace, ataraxia is an active, cultivated achievement of philosophical discipline. It is the surgeon's steady hand after forty sleepless hours, the philosopher watching the storm from a sheltered porch, the diver suspended in perfect stillness at thirty meters—no bubbles, no thought, only the luminous pressure of being exactly where one is meant to be. Less an escape from turmoil than a quiet mastery over the impulse to answer chaos with more chaos.
❧ Essay by Lexicurio’s AI · definition, etymology & citations from published sources
Etymology
From Ancient Greek ἀταραξία (ataraxía), ἀ- (a-, negative prefix) + ταράσσω (tarássō, “trouble, disturb”). Doublet of ataraxy.
noun
- Tranquility of mind; absence of mental disturbance.e.g.“Near-synonyms: ataraxy, peace of mind, unflappability, unperturbedness”
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.