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
Director Dean Fleischer Camp’s family adventure feels like an excessively earnest Disney Channel movie compared with the delightfully unhinged 2002 cartoon. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 21 May 2025 Blissfully, the 2002 film Lilo & Stitch gets an adaptation that is vibrant, whimsical, and earnest (and also cute and fluffy!). —EW.com, 20 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
  • President Donald Trump delivered a history-laden Memorial Day speech after laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, his remarks echoing against the solemn backdrop of Arlington National Cemetery, final resting place of more than 400,000 veterans and their family members.
    — Davis Winkie, USA Today, 27 May 2025
  • Easter can be a solemn event, but only the few days before.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 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
  • Seven restaurants were closed because of serious health violations: Chuys Restaurant, 4441 River Oaks Blvd., had a score of 27 and was closed because of unsafe temperatures in the restaurant’s cold storage units.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 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
  • The 5,000-ton-class destroyer was damaged Wednesday when a transport cradle on the ship’s stern detached early during a launch ceremony attended by Kim at the northeastern port of Chongjin.
    — Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 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 6 Jun. 2025.

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