adjective

dovish

/ˈdʌvɪʃ/ · say it: DUV·ish

favoring a gentle or peaceful approach

In From the Front Page

In more detail

1. (adjective) favoring peace and opposing war or military action

2. (adjective) in finance, believing that prices will fall or supporting lower interest rates

Examples

1. The dovish senator argued against military intervention in the conflict.
2. The central bank took a dovish stance by reducing interest rates.

How to use dovish

Dovish is primarily used in political and economic contexts to describe those who favor negotiation, restraint, and de-escalation rather than military or aggressive action. In finance, it describes those expecting economic weakness or supporting accommodative monetary policy. The term often contrasts with hawkish and carries a generally positive connotation in peacetime but can be dismissive in security debates.

Common phrases

dovish stance
dovish position
dovish policy
dovish central bank
dovish rhetoric
dovish tone

Synonyms

peaceful · pacifist · anti-war · conciliatory · gentle

Opposites

hawkish · warlike · bellicose

Word family

dove · dovishly · dovishness

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse dovish with the literal meaning of dove (the bird) or fail to recognize its technical use in finance alongside its political sense.

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