truce

1 of 2

noun

1
: a suspension of fighting especially of considerable duration by agreement of opposing forces : armistice, ceasefire
2
: a respite especially from a disagreeable or painful state or action

truce

2 of 2

verb

truced; trucing

intransitive verb

: to make a truce

transitive verb

: to end with a truce

Examples of truce in a Sentence

Noun There's been an uneasy truce between her and her parents for the past several months. both sides agreed to a 24-hour truce beginning at midnight on Christmas Eve
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.
Noun
The developments come less than two weeks after the breakdown of a temporary truce, after which Israel resumed its air and ground campaigns in the enclave. Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 31 Mar. 2025 At the center of the film is Mikal’s relationship with his mother, while Jason is more a peripheral figure, an ineffectual referee between two warring parties, managing to negotiate only temporary truces. Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 30 Mar. 2025 Israel resumed airstrikes on Gaza on March 18 following a two-month truce. Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2025 Russia and Ukraine agree to a sea and energy truce. Taylor Wilson, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for truce

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English trewes, plural of trewe agreement, from Old English trēow fidelity; akin to Old English trēowe faithful — more at true entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of truce was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Truce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/truce. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

truce

noun
ˈtrüs
1
: a temporary stopping of fighting (as in a war)
2
: a short rest especially from something unpleasant

More from Merriam-Webster on truce

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!