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a serious injury
a significant injury
a severe injury
a substantial injury
a major injury
an intense injury
serious questions
legitimate questions
sincere questions
genuine questions
sensible questions
tough questions
a serious concern
a substantial concern
a significant concern
a considerable concern
a major concern
an important concern
serious doubts
immense doubts
strong doubts
severe doubts
massive doubts
a serious effort
a huge effort
a considerable effort
a substantial effort
a real effort
a sincere effort

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of serious are earnest, grave, sedate, sober, solemn, and staid. While all these words mean "not light or frivolous," serious implies a concern for what really matters.

a serious play about social injustice

In what contexts can earnest take the place of serious?

Although the words earnest and serious have much in common, earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose.

an earnest reformer

When would grave be a good substitute for serious?

While in some cases nearly identical to serious, 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 serious?

While the synonyms sedate and serious are close in meaning, sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness.

remained sedate amid the commotion

Where would sober be a reasonable alternative to serious?

The words sober and serious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 serious?

The synonyms solemn and serious are sometimes interchangeable, but solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity.

a sad and solemn occasion

When is staid a more appropriate choice than serious?

In some situations, the words staid and serious are roughly equivalent. However, 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 serious That does not mean our state capitol is lacking for some serious hardball. Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025 Almeida had a bloodied hand at the finish but wasn’t showing visible signs of a serious injury. Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 11 July 2025 And finally, a tree with serious diseases or pests that might infect the rest of the neighborhood should be removed as soon as possible. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 July 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for serious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for serious
Adjective
  • 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
  • Another important preventative measure athletes can take is preparing for life after sport.
    Brook Choulet, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • Other regional universities — Illinois (UIUC), Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State and Purdue — also do important fusion research.
    Kathleen Gallagher, jsonline.com, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • Making Their Lives Too Easy Wealth without work creates a dangerous illusion.
    Anatoly Iofe, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • This led to the state’s adoption of the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 and many related laws meant to lessen the emissions that contribute to drier, hotter and increasingly dangerous conditions across the world — and to inspire other governments to follow suit.
    U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • Climate change is intensifying the global water cycle, leading to more frequent and severe flooding and drought.
    Claire Poole, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
  • And damage to roofs and interior contents is typically only covered if caused by high-speed winds during hurricanes, tornadoes or other severe weather.
    Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 12 July 2025
Adjective
  • For their spring 2025 collections, high-end houses (like Chloé and Tory Burch) and high-street brands (like Sam Edelman and Steve Madden) got in on the fun, too, cementing PVC as one of summer’s biggest sandal trends.
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 15 July 2025
  • Beyond that is the main event: the big blue sea, which is making great crunching sounds as the waves stretch and yawn.
    Daisy Jones, Vogue, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • Fire crews sometimes allow lightning-strike fires to burn, and made the decision to do that on the Dragon Bravo Fire, intended to reduce hazardous fuels and vegetation along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
    Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 15 July 2025
  • Map of damage: See how the Texas floods unfolded and why Camp Mystic was in a hazardous location The death toll has risen to 129 on Saturday, including more than three dozen children.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • The group is so deep — and perhaps has sustained so much injured attrition over the past two years — that the earnest fan could probably name nine offensive lineman off the top of their head.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2025
  • Keen home cook Erin Patterson hosted an intimate meal in July 2023 that started with good-natured banter and earnest prayer — but ended with three guests dead.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • With The Hartford being one of Main Street America’s major sponsors, the local organization could eligible for additional funding in the future, Fukala said.
    Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • The nearest major airport is San Francisco International Airport (SFO), which is about 86 miles, or a two-and-a-half-hour drive.
    Rafael Peña, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Serious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/serious. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on serious

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