Patient vs. Calm — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 17, 2024
Patient involves enduring discomfort or delays without complaint; calm refers to a state of tranquility, free from agitation or strong emotion.
Difference Between Patient and Calm
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Being patient implies a capacity to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious, often requiring a conscious effort to control one's emotions or reactions. Whereas calm describes a person's serene state, characterized by the absence of excitement, nervousness, or agitation, often perceived as a part of their temperament.
Patients often exhibit their quality in scenarios where outcomes are delayed or when enduring hardship, suggesting a dynamic aspect of dealing with external circumstances. On the other hand, calmness is typically displayed in how a person reacts to their surroundings, indicating a more consistent and inherent trait.
A patient person may not necessarily be calm; they might be internally restless or anxious while choosing to not express these feelings overtly. Conversely, a calm individual usually maintains a steady, peaceful demeanor, which might naturally extend to patience but centers more on their emotional state.
Patience can be a virtue necessary in various long-term pursuits like education, projects, or personal growth, where progress is incremental and slow. In contrast, calmness is often most valuable in immediate, stressful situations that require a clear, composed mind.
Cultivating patience often involves mental strategies or a philosophical outlook that enables one to handle life's slower processes. Calmness, however, can be a result of personality traits, practiced relaxation techniques, or a naturally low-key demeanor.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Ability to accept delay without response
State of being free from agitation
Key characteristic
Endurance in the face of trials
Peacefulness in the face of chaos
Behavioral context
Often related to external situations
Generally a consistent internal state
Emotional undertone
May involve suppressed annoyance or anxiety
Typically involves genuine tranquility
Common scenarios
Waiting long periods, enduring pain
Handling sudden stress, maintaining quietude
Compare with Definitions
Patient
Tolerant of problems or suffering.
He was patient with his students as they struggled with the new concepts.
Calm
Free from excitement or passion.
He remained calm during the heated debate.
Patient
Not hasty or impulsive.
She made a patient decision about her career move.
Calm
Untroubled state of mind.
He approached the problem with a calm that helped everyone feel at ease.
Patient
Enduring delay or incompetence without irritation.
She remained patient even as the meeting was rescheduled for the third time.
Calm
Not showing or feeling nervousness.
She delivered the speech with a calm confidence that impressed everyone.
Patient
Capable of persistent effort.
Her patient pursuit of the championship title paid off after many seasons.
Calm
The act of soothing or not being disturbed.
Her calm response to the crisis averted panic.
Patient
Accepting of the pace of others.
The therapist was patient with her client’s slow progress.
Calm
Serene, tranquil environment or demeanor.
The calm waters of the lake were perfect for kayaking.
Patient
A patient is any recipient of health care services that are performed by healthcare professionals. The patient is most often ill or injured and in need of treatment by a physician, nurse, psychologist, dentist, veterinarian, or other health care provider.
Calm
Not showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other strong emotions
She had to keep calm at all costs
His voice was calm
Patient
Bearing or enduring pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance with calmness
Tried to remain patient when the airline announced the flight was delayed.
Calm
(of the weather) pleasantly free from wind
The night was clear and calm
Patient
Marked by or exhibiting calm endurance of pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance
Responded to the accusations with a patient smile.
Calm
The absence of strong emotions; calm feelings
His usual calm deserted him
Patient
Tolerant; understanding
An unfailingly patient leader and guide.
Calm
The absence of wind
In the centre of the storm calm prevailed
Patient
Persevering; constant
With patient industry, she revived the failing business and made it thrive.
Calm
Make (someone) tranquil and quiet; soothe
I took him inside and tried to calm him down
Patient
Capable of calmly awaiting an outcome or result; not hasty or impulsive.
Calm
Nearly or completely motionless; undisturbed
The calm surface of the lake.
Patient
Capable of bearing or enduring pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance
“My uncle Toby was a man patient of injuries” (Laurence Sterne).
Calm
Not excited or agitated; composed
The president was calm throughout the global crisis.
Patient
One who receives medical attention, care, or treatment.
Calm
An absence or cessation of motion; stillness.
Patient
(Linguistics) A noun or noun phrase identifying one that is acted upon or undergoes an action. Also called goal.
Calm
A condition of no wind or a wind with a speed of less than 1 knot (1.15 miles per hour; 1.9 kilometers per hour), according to the Beaufort scale.
Patient
(Obsolete) One who suffers.
Calm
Tranquility or serenity
"an unaccustomed reticence that I took to be the calm that follows rage" (Jeanne Marie Laskas).
Patient
(of a person) Willing to wait if necessary; not losing one's temper while waiting.
Be patient: your friends will arrive in a few hours.
Calm
To make or become calm or quiet
A warm bath will calm you. After the storm, the air calmed.
Patient
Constant in pursuit or exertion; persevering; calmly diligent.
Patient endeavour
A patient wait
Patient analysis
Calm
(of a person) Peaceful, quiet, especially free from anger and anxiety.
Patient
(obsolete) Physically able to suffer or bear.
Calm
(of a place or situation) Free of noise and disturbance.
Patient
A person or animal who receives treatment from a doctor or other medically educated person.
Calm
(of water) with few or no waves on the surface; not rippled.
Patient
The noun or noun phrase that is semantically on the receiving end of a verb's action.
The subject of a passive verb is usually a patient.
Calm
Without wind or storm.
Patient
One who, or that which, is passively affected; a passive recipient.
Calm
(in a person) The state of being calm; peacefulness; absence of worry, anger, fear or other strong negative emotion.
Patient
Having the quality of enduring; physically able to suffer or bear.
Patient of severest toil and hardship.
Calm
(in a place or situation) The state of being calm; absence of noise and disturbance.
Patient
Undergoing pains, trials, or the like, without murmuring or fretfulness; bearing up with equanimity against trouble; long-suffering.
Calm
A period of time without wind.
Patient
Constant in pursuit or exertion; persevering; calmly diligent; as, patient endeavor.
Whatever I have done is due to patient thought.
Calm
(transitive) To make calm.
To calm a crying baby
To calm the passions
Patient
Expectant with calmness, or without discontent; not hasty; not overeager; composed.
Not patient to expect the turns of fate.
Calm
(intransitive) To become calm.
Patient
Forbearing; long-suffering.
Be patient toward all men.
Calm
Freedom from motion, agitation, or disturbance; a cessation or absence of that which causes motion or disturbance, as of winds or waves; tranquility; stillness; quiet; serenity.
The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
A calm before a storm is commonly a peace of a man's own making.
Patient
One who, or that which, is passively affected; a passive recipient.
Malice is a passion so impetuous and precipitate that it often involves the agent and the patient.
Calm
To make calm; to render still or quiet, as elements; as, to calm the winds.
To calm the tempest raised by Eolus.
Patient
A person under medical or surgical treatment; - correlative to physician or nurse.
Like a physician, . . . seeing his patient in a pestilent fever.
Calm
To deliver from agitation or excitement; to still or soothe, as the mind or passions.
Passions which seem somewhat calmed.
Patient
To compose, to calm.
Calm
Not stormy; without motion, as of winds or waves; still; quiet; serene; undisturbed.
Now all is calm, and fresh, and still.
Patient
A person who requires medical care;
The number of emergency patients has grown rapidly
Calm
Undisturbed by passion or emotion; not agitated or excited; tranquil; quiet in act or speech.
Such calm old age as conscience pureAnd self-commanding hearts ensure.
Patient
The semantic role of an entity that is not the agent but is directly involved in or affected by the happening denoted by the verb in the clause
Calm
Steadiness of mind under stress;
He accepted their problems with composure and she with equanimity
Patient
Enduring trying circumstances with even temper or characterized by such endurance;
A patient smile
Was patient with the children
An exact and patient scientist
Please be patient
Calm
Make calm or still;
Quiet the dragons of worry and fear
Patient
Enduring without protest or complaint
Calm
Make steady;
Steady yourself
Calm
Become quiet or calm, especially after a state of agitation;
After the fight both men need to cool off.
It took a while after the baby was born for things to settle down again.
Calm
Cause to be calm or quiet as by administering a sedative to;
The patient must be sedated before the operation
Calm
Not agitated; without losing self-possession;
Spoke in a calm voice
Remained calm throughout the uproar
Calm
Characterized by absence of emotional agitation;
Calm acceptance of the inevitable
Remained serene in the midst of turbulence
A serene expression on her face
She became more tranquil
Tranquil life in the country
Calm
(of weather) free from storm or wind;
Calm seas
Calm
Marked by freedom from agitation or excitement;
The rioters gradually became calm and slowly dispersed
Common Curiosities
How does calm differ from being patient?
Calm refers to a peaceful state, typically an emotional baseline, while being patient is about how one deals with external delays or pain.
What is the essence of being patient?
Being patient is about enduring discomfort or setbacks without making a fuss or becoming agitated.
Can a person be calm but not patient?
Yes, a person can be naturally calm but may still express frustration or irritation in situations requiring patience.
How can one cultivate calmness?
Techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga can help cultivate a calm demeanor.
Why is patience important in a workplace?
Patience is crucial for dealing with project delays, learning new skills, or managing team dynamics.
Does being patient affect mental health positively?
Yes, practicing patience can reduce stress levels and lead to better mental health outcomes.
Is patience a skill that can be developed?
Yes, patience can be developed through practices like mindfulness and setting realistic expectations.
What are some everyday examples of calmness?
Examples include maintaining composure in a crisis or not reacting hastily to provocation.
What is a simple way to practice being calm?
Regularly engaging in activities that relax the mind and body, like reading or walking, can enhance calmness.
How do children exhibit patience?
Children can exhibit patience through learning to wait.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
