equanimity
5 synonyms and 3 antonyms for equanimity, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A calm, steady state of mind that holds up under strain, so that difficulty or provocation does not throw the person off balance.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to Use Equanimity
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Formal and literary. Common in journalism, philosophy and writing about meditation; rare in casual speech.
Etymology
From Latin aequanimitas, from aequus 'even, level' and animus 'mind, spirit' — literally an evenness of mind.
Full origin of equanimity →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between equanimity and equilibrium?
Equanimity is a state of mind: calmness that survives stress or bad news. Equilibrium is a balance between forces or elements, and can be physical, chemical, economic or emotional. You can say a person kept their equanimity, but a chemical reaction reaches equilibrium.
Is equanimity the same as indifference?
No. Indifference means you do not care about the outcome; equanimity means you care but remain steady anyway. The word implies emotional strength rather than emotional absence, which is why it is often used approvingly.
How is equanimity used in meditation and Buddhism?
In Buddhist teaching, equanimity translates terms such as upekkha and names an even-minded attitude towards pleasure and pain alike. It is one of the qualities practitioners deliberately cultivate, so the word turns up constantly in mindfulness writing.