quietism

noun

qui·et·ism | \ ˈkwī-ə-ˌti-zəm

Definition of quietism

1a : 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b : a passive withdrawn attitude or policy toward the world or worldly affairs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

Other Words from quietism Example Sentences Learn More about quietism

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Other Words from quietism

quietist \ ˈkwī-ə-tist

\ adjective or noun

quietistic \ ˌkwī-ə-ˈti-stik

\ adjective

Examples of quietism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

What was an ultimately unsuccessful effort to draw the monkhood out of its political quietism swiftly mutated into an anti-progressive force, and continued to endure as a dark cloud over the region’s politics in subsequent decades. — Amar Diwakar, The New Republic, "Saffron Curtain: How Buddhism Was Weaponized During the Cold War," 23 Mar. 2018 What was an ultimately unsuccessful effort to draw the monkhood out of its political quietism swiftly mutated into an anti-progressive force, and continued to endure as a dark cloud over the region’s politics in subsequent decades. — Amar Diwakar, The New Republic, "Saffron Curtain: How Buddhism Was Weaponized During the Cold War," 23 Mar. 2018 To acknowledge this fact is not to call for quietism. — Jacob Brogan, Slate Magazine, "The Global Seed Vault may seem like a failsafe for end times, but it’s actually a reminder that the world is always ending.," 27 Mar. 2017 The piece predicts that political quietism, wars, pandemics, and fossil-fuel stubbornness will lead to civilizational collapse and a long dark age. — Joey Eschrich, Slate Magazine, "Even the most far-out visions of tomorrow assume capitalism will survive.," 20 Sep. 2017 Diana was more aggressive, the clamorous defender of quietism. — Tobi Haslett, The New Yorker, "The Feuds of Diana Trilling," 29 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'quietism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for quietism

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)