as in gravity
formal
a very serious quality or manner
The new leader has an air of gravitas that commands respect. a comic actress who lacks the gravitas for dramatic roles
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gravitas
More competent and less malleable than Henry, Potter had a gravitas befitting a show that was growing in ambition.
—
James Poniewozik, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2022
Some fiction podcasts ape true crime, borrowing that genre’s structure and tropes in order to achieve a suspenseful gravitas.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 14 July 2022
His range was wide, but Hall, who had a natural gravitas, often played men in suits, trench coats and lab coats.
—Jake Coyle, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2022
Baseball holds a particular gravitas in the world of sports.
—Aj Willingham, CNN, 8 May 2022
See All Example Sentences for gravitas
James Poniewozik, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2022
Some fiction podcasts ape true crime, borrowing that genre’s structure and tropes in order to achieve a suspenseful gravitas.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 14 July 2022
His range was wide, but Hall, who had a natural gravitas, often played men in suits, trench coats and lab coats.
—Jake Coyle, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2022
Baseball holds a particular gravitas in the world of sports.
—Aj Willingham, CNN, 8 May 2022
See All Example Sentences for gravitas
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gravitas
Noun
-
Miami is loaded with international stars and commands the most gravity in the league right now, but LAFC offers heavyweights of its own.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Huston kept the type of cancer private, while emphasizing the gravity of learning about the diagnoses.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Taking on Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena is undoubtedly a tough challenge, one requiring visitors to have a combination of quality, gritty determination and a little luck.—
Adam Digby,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
The committee considers several factors, when making its determinations, including real income, payroll employment, consumer spending, industrial production and gross domestic product.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The agreement was made during the NFL’s open negotiation window, but a contract can’t be officially signed until the start of the new league year when free agency starts in earnest on Wednesday at 4 p.m. Moehrig, 25, brings size and physicality to the Panthers’ safety room.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Mar. 2025
-
After a brief moment mourning Acacia, the episode this week starts in earnest with the reading challenge.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The JuJu Watkins injury has thrown an unshakable solemnity across women’s basketball.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Even with the acknowledgements of those Dead members missing from the stage, any solemnity was short-lived, and the tone veered more toward presenter Woody Harrelson’s introductory speech for the band’s kudos.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
1 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
In recent years it's flown military planes over a corner of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone almost daily to signal its resolve.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2025
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But, if Forest can hold on to the level of resolve that was typified by the young man from Sao Paulo in the 96th minute of the game, who knows where this journey will end.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gravitas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gravitas. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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