solemnity
noun
so·lem·ni·ty
sə-ˈlem-nə-tē 
plural solemnities
1
: formal or ceremonious observance of an occasion or event
2
: a solemn event or occasion
3
: a solemn condition or quality
the solemnity of his words
Synonyms
Examples of solemnity in a Sentence
the solemnity of the occasion
Her voice conveyed the solemnity of the passage.
The visiting statesman was welcomed with appropriate solemnity.
Elaborate solemnities marked the 100th anniversary of the event.
Recent Examples on the Web
And Navajos regard eclipses with solemnity, marking them as a time to show reverence and respect for the sun and Earth.
—
Ashley Strickland, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
As often as not, the snap is an undercut, slicing off solemnity at the knees.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024
An older version of Ye (Rosalind Chao) sticks around as 3 Body Problem to watch events unfold with a knowing solemnity.
—Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 21 Mar. 2024
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, a season marked by sacrifice and solemnity.
—Ruth Graham, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2024
An oasis of greenery surrounds the duplicitous Emperor (Christopher Walken) and his daughter, Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh), but the change of scenery is all but undone by the characters’ colorless solemnity.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2024
He's dressed for the solemnity of the occasion, in a maroon velvet shirt and a pair of dangling feather earrings.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 4 July 2023
Carmen became the standard for his crusade against Wagnerian solemnity.
—Larry Wolff, The New York Review of Books, 1 Feb. 2024
Matsuda oversaw this with solemnity and an appropriate sense of timing.
—Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Jan. 2024
Ashley Strickland, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
As often as not, the snap is an undercut, slicing off solemnity at the knees.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024
An older version of Ye (Rosalind Chao) sticks around as 3 Body Problem to watch events unfold with a knowing solemnity.
—Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 21 Mar. 2024
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, a season marked by sacrifice and solemnity.
—Ruth Graham, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2024
An oasis of greenery surrounds the duplicitous Emperor (Christopher Walken) and his daughter, Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh), but the change of scenery is all but undone by the characters’ colorless solemnity.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2024
He's dressed for the solemnity of the occasion, in a maroon velvet shirt and a pair of dangling feather earrings.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 4 July 2023
Carmen became the standard for his crusade against Wagnerian solemnity.
—Larry Wolff, The New York Review of Books, 1 Feb. 2024
Matsuda oversaw this with solemnity and an appropriate sense of timing.
—Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'solemnity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near solemnity
Cite this Entry
“Solemnity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solemnity. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share