The way you describe your setting can have an impact on how your characters respond or react to the events in your plot. Even if you are just describing a calm river in order to help the reader visualize the setting, it’s important to use descriptive words that tap into the senses a bit more. If you need some words to describe a calm river, try using one of the 10 below to help your reader ‘see’ the river in all its serenity.
1. Tranquil
Definitions
- Without disturbance or commotion.
- Unwavering or steady.
Examples
“She gazed out at the tranquil river, feeling its peace and stillness within her.”
“The tranquil river flowed effortlessly along its banks.”
How it Adds Description
The word tranquil suggests that the river is peaceful and calm, almost heavenly: the water moves swiftly but easily along the banks, maybe there are birds chirping sweetly and the sun is shining brightly. Use tranquil if you want your reader to imagine the river as perfect and picturesque.
2. Serene
Definition
- Free of unpleasantness or disruption.
- Complete calm and quietude.
Examples
“The serene river made him feel at ease.”
“Travelling on the serene river was a breeze compared to the tumultuous storm at sea.”
How it Adds Description
Serene is best used when comparing the river to something wild and frayed because it creates an image of a setting so peaceful that it calms everything around it. Maybe your character is nervous or scared; if you have them visit or come across a serene river, they may immediately feel at ease and able to handle whatever situation they find themselves in.
3. Still
Definition
- Unmoving.
- Quiet.
Examples
“The river was so still that she could see the fish moving beneath the surface.”
“The still river reflected his image back at him.”
How it Adds Description
Still suggests a body of water that is flat, like glass. You can use it to describe a river that has no movement or if you want your characters to be able to see what’s beneath the water’s surface. You could also use still to describe a river before something has shattered the stillness, making the event that much more impressive. Think of the image a shattered window or mirror has; disturbing a still river would have the same effect.
4. Quiet
Definition
Without noise or movement.
Examples
“The river was so quiet you could hear the dewdrops falling from the leaves.”
“He was surprised at how quiet the river was considering how loud the storm was the night before.”
How it Adds Description
If you want to highlight how the river sounds, describing it as quiet will help your reader imagine the lack of noise and imagine water moving smoothly, without anything in its way. Quiet could be used in a positive manner, highlighting the lack of noise if the character needs things to be silent. Or you could also use quiet to show a calm river that is a bit eerie or hiding something sinister, if it is too quiet.
5. Peaceful
Definition
Easygoing, without force.
Examples
“The driftwood travelled along the peaceful river, with nothing to stop its travels.”
“She fell asleep in her rowboat as it floated along the peaceful river, content in the knowledge that she was safe from harm.”
How it Adds Description
Like tranquil and serene, peaceful tells your reader there is nothing to fear in this river; the animals won’t bite, there won’t be any unexpected waterfalls or rapids. Your characters can travel easily.
6. Placid
Definition
Without commotion or trouble.
Examples
“The placid river calmed her anxious nerves.”
“He felt at home, sitting on the banks of the placid river.”
How it Adds Description
Placid implies a body of water with zero movement: no animals, no waves, not even a breeze. It could be used as a positive adjective, like in the examples above, or you could use it as a negative, to suggest that there is something wrong with the river since there is no activity within it.
7. Limpid
Definition
- So clear it’s see-through.
- Completely calm and undisturbed.
Examples
“She gazed into the limpid river, watching the fish swim to and fro.”
“The limpid river sat unmoving, not a ripple breaking through its waters.”
How it Adds Description
Limpid suggests to the reader that the surface of the water is so flat that it looks like a piece of glass. Limpid also suggests that nothing is moving, not even the fish, so you could use it to describe a river in the middle of summer, when the heat is so thick and humid that everything wants to stay asleep until it cools off a little.
8. Smooth
Definition
- Having an even or level surface.
- easygoing or untroubled.
Examples
“The smooth river flowed easily along the banks.”
“She enjoyed the boat ride along the smooth river.”
How it Adds Description
Because smooth can describe both a texture and movement, use it in your own novel to show how a river looks and feels at the same time. You can also use smooth to show how pleasant the calm river is to the characters interacting with it, especially if they are travelling down the river by boat. A smooth ride is much more enjoyable than a rough one.
9. Sedated
Definition
A condition of calm and relaxation.
Examples
“While the river was normally chaotic and agitated, today it seemed sedated.”
“The river became sedate after they rounded the bend, not a ripple in sight.”
How it Adds Description
Since sedated implies someone or something that has been calmed by something or someone else, use sedate in your own story when trying to show a river that has changed from being rough or rapid. This will show your reader that there has been a positive change in the setting, and they should probably pay attention to what is happening next.
10. Mellow
Definition
Relaxed, pleasing, comfortable.
Examples
“He floated along the mellow river, feeling quite at ease himself.”
“The sounds of the mellow river cooled his angry mind.”
How it Adds Description
Like a mellow person, a mellow river is a place of peace and happiness. Use it in your own novel to make the reader feel contentment in the setting. It is especially useful to show a setting contrasting with a character’s excitement or anxiety (in order to calm them down) or with a stormy and scary environment.