as in intentness
a mental state free of jesting or trifling
practiced the art of acting with great earnestness
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of earnestness
Frank, played with endearing earnestness by Bale, is more of a big softie than a monster.
—
ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
The Scream series emerged during the age of the New Irony, survived the ensuing New Sincerity, and made it through several other civilizational cycles of earnestness and self-awareness before landing here in today’s era of Nothing Matters and Everything Sucks.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
The fashion for bushy beards, and beards’ association with authentic manliness, has followed this same trajectory from irony to earnestness during its various resurgences since the early 19th century.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
But its unabashed earnestness is its greatest asset.
—Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 20 Feb. 2026
But there’s something about his demeanor, his earnestness, his character that has won over teammates and coaching staffs throughout the Tampa Bay system.
—John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2026
The earnestness transferred into the character and lifted it.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
There’s a Leave It to Beaver earnestness about the stuff.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
The filmmaker leans pop-comic rather than petrifying in his final draft, opting for earnestness that smothers atmospheric dread.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2026
ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
The Scream series emerged during the age of the New Irony, survived the ensuing New Sincerity, and made it through several other civilizational cycles of earnestness and self-awareness before landing here in today’s era of Nothing Matters and Everything Sucks.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
The fashion for bushy beards, and beards’ association with authentic manliness, has followed this same trajectory from irony to earnestness during its various resurgences since the early 19th century.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
But its unabashed earnestness is its greatest asset.
—Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 20 Feb. 2026
But there’s something about his demeanor, his earnestness, his character that has won over teammates and coaching staffs throughout the Tampa Bay system.
—John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2026
The earnestness transferred into the character and lifted it.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
There’s a Leave It to Beaver earnestness about the stuff.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
The filmmaker leans pop-comic rather than petrifying in his final draft, opting for earnestness that smothers atmospheric dread.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for earnestness
Noun
-
The episode starts in earnest when Myki learns about how the other queens voted.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The guard's Basij force likely was key in putting down the demonstrations, starting in earnest from Jan. 8, when authorities cut off the internet and international telephone calls for the nation of 85 million people.—
SAM McNEIL AND JON GAMBRELL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
On the smallest scales, structure gets washed out, while on larger scales, structure takes a long time to form, as larger scales plus the finite speed of gravity translate into longer timescales for collapse.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Marshall showed viewers the structural supports of the building that handle gravity loads from the weight of the building and lateral loads due to seismic activity.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The judge found that Brown’s 29 years in prison was a significant sentence, reflective of the seriousness of the crime, the order states.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The teen's pulse was restored, but he was still flown to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for emergency treatment due to the seriousness of his injuries.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Earnestness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earnestness. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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