quietism

noun

qui·​et·​ism ˈkwī-ə-ˌti-zəm How to pronounce quietism (audio)
1
a
: a system of religious mysticism teaching that perfection and spiritual peace are attained by annihilation of the will and passive absorption in contemplation of God and divine things
b
: a passive withdrawn attitude or policy toward the world or worldly affairs
2
: a state of calmness or passivity
quietist
ˈkwī-ə-tist How to pronounce quietism (audio)
adjective or noun
quietistic
ˌkwī-ə-ˈti-stik How to pronounce quietism (audio)
adjective

Examples of quietism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Prayer is often seen as quietism, a plea to be rescued instead of a call to action. — David S. Wallace, The New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2021 To most modern peoples the idea would represent a secular analogue to quietism, fatalistic and Luddite. — Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025 With Israel’s borderlands in ruins and hundreds of its citizens taken hostage, the country’s voters could no longer countenance their leader’s quietism, which now looked like a historic blunder. — Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026 Advertisement The Islamic Republic that has just lost its supreme leader is the product of that decision to abandon clerical quietism and seize the state. — Bobby Ghosh, Time, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for quietism

Word History

Etymology

quiet entry 1 + -ism, after quietist "practitioner of quietism," probably borrowed from Italian quietista, from quiete quiet entry 1 + -ista -ist entry 1 (perhaps after Spanish oración de quietud, literally, "prayer of quiet," phrase used by the mystics Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross)

First Known Use

1687, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of quietism was in 1687

Rhymes for quietism

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Browse Nearby Words

quieter
quietism
quietist
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Cite this Entry

“Quietism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quietism. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on quietism

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about quietism

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