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
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of earnest
Arietta Hallock, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 July 2025
McCurdy's memoir, published by Simon & Schuster in August 2022, is one of the buzziest celebrity books in recent memory, with its eye-catching title and earnest reflections on child stardom.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 1 July 2025
Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 12 June 2025
In her new role, Turner will build Seattle’s first-ever roster starting in earnest on June 4, when the five-day exclusive signing window opens for expansion teams to sign free agents or players who have been left unprotected by their current teams.
—Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for earnest
Adjective
Brands are responding to people’s earnest interests in well-being, likely driven by nationwide conversations like the rising rate of colorectal cancer among young Americans.
—Arietta Hallock, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 July 2025
McCurdy's memoir, published by Simon & Schuster in August 2022, is one of the buzziest celebrity books in recent memory, with its eye-catching title and earnest reflections on child stardom.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 1 July 2025
Noun
Money attracts money, and private equity firms barrelled into this trade in earnest in the 2010s.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 12 June 2025
In her new role, Turner will build Seattle’s first-ever roster starting in earnest on June 4, when the five-day exclusive signing window opens for expansion teams to sign free agents or players who have been left unprotected by their current teams.
—Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for earnest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for earnest
Adjective
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Its fun-first identity is part of the draw in a market flooded with solemn storytelling and dusty barrels.—
Hudson Lindenberger,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
Moderator Whoopi Goldberg opened the show with a solemn acknowledgment of the disaster, urging viewers in affected areas to stay safe and tune in for information on how to help.—
Heather Hunter,
The Washington Examiner,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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Over time, those sketches became more serious, taking the form of tattoo designs.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
11 July 2025
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The report cited Biden's sleep apnea treatment and stiffened gait from arthritis, but mentioned no serious ailments.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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As the bow and stern sections tore free from one another, the ship’s contents were ejected and rained down across the ocean floor, dispersing everything from luggage and dinnerware to engine parts and personal belongings.—
Jordan Runtagh,
People.com,
6 July 2025
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Len, that character of a stern Englishman with a twinkle in his eye, felt like the core of what the show was.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
5 July 2025
Noun
-
Sunday wraps up with the first day of the 2025 MLB Draft, the leg of the weekend with actual gravity.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
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Despite the gravity of the moment, the conversation ended with a charge grounded in legacy.—
Oumou Fofana,
Essence,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Earnest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earnest. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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