earnest 1 of 2

adjective

ˈər-nəst How to pronounce earnest (audio)
Definition of earnestnext
as in solemn
not joking or playful in mood or manner I'll accept only an earnest apology from you

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

earnest

2 of 2

noun

as in intentness
a mental state free of jesting or trifling I am in deadly earnest about this marriage proposal

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word earnest different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of earnest are grave, sedate, serious, sober, solemn, and staid. While all these words mean "not light or frivolous," earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose.

an earnest reformer

In what contexts can grave take the place of earnest?

The words grave and earnest can be used in similar contexts, but grave implies both seriousness and dignity in expression or attitude.

read the proclamation in a grave voice

When is it sensible to use sedate instead of earnest?

The synonyms sedate and earnest are sometimes interchangeable, but sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness.

remained sedate amid the commotion

Where would serious be a reasonable alternative to earnest?

The words serious and earnest are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, serious implies a concern for what really matters.

a serious play about social injustice

When can sober be used instead of earnest?

In some situations, the words sober and earnest are roughly equivalent. However, sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity.

a sober look at the state of our schools

When might solemn be a better fit than earnest?

Although the words solemn and earnest have much in common, solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity.

a sad and solemn occasion

When is staid a more appropriate choice than earnest?

While the synonyms staid and earnest are close in meaning, staid suggests a settled, accustomed sedateness and prim self-restraint.

a quiet and staid community

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of earnest
Adjective
Whether in jest or earnest, some now claim the 2024-25 team is one of destiny. —C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 9 May 2025 Since the Season Three finale last month, the rumor mill has been in overdrive, especially after fans noticed that the two no longer followed each other on Instagram, despite both also sharing heartfelt and earnest tributes to the show and their characters. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 6 May 2025
Noun
His meteoric rise to the first round of the 2024 draft started in earnest at Tennessee with an NCAA Elite Eight run after his second transfer. —Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2025 Replanting in this gentle valley hasn’t yet started in earnest. —Christine Ro, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for earnest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for earnest
  1. solemn
  2. serious
  3. stern
  4. gravity
Adjective
  • Handheld digital images give way to more solemn documentary reveries, which give way to surveillance footage and TikTok-style social media interludes.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 17 May 2025
  • The scenes involving Alma and Erika, both of whom grow up in worlds dominated by a solemn patriarchy and plagued by hardship, feel like they were drawn from period horror movies.
    — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2025
Definition of solemn
Adjective
  • Created by a Benedictine monk with a serious eye for detail, this whimsical stop features 125 tiny, handcrafted replicas of famous historic landmarks, like St. Peter’s Basilica and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, all located on the grounds of Alabama’s only Benedictine monastery, St. Bernard Abbey.
    — Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 24 May 2025
  • Some of the Thunderbird pilots flying high had to overcome serious obstacles on the ground.
    — Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 24 May 2025
Definition of serious
Adjective
  • The flybridge has a reverse radar arch that prompts a double take, while the remainder of the exterior focuses on open space (case in point, the foredeck), along with the beautiful design of the cockpit and stern area.
    — Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 28 May 2025
  • And, Boeing would have had to submit to a Justice Department—appointed compliance monitor, with the independence and power to impose stern safety reforms.
    — Charles Tiefer, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Definition of stern
Noun
  • For example, the Westinghouse AP1000 features passive safety systems that rely on natural forces like gravity and convection to cool the reactor in emergencies rather than active mechanical pumps or human intervention.
    — Garth Friesen, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
  • In the case of Mugatu – which can't always be walking down ramps – gravity is replaced by an oscillating hip motor.
    — Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 23 May 2025
Definition of gravity

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Cite this Entry

“Earnest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earnest. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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