as in intentness
a mental state free of jesting or trifling
practiced the art of acting with great earnestness
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Recent Examples of earnestness
But the Explosive News representative spoke of their efforts with a lofty earnestness.
—
Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
His ability to balance earnestness and whimsy, dedication and delight, have reaped palpable benefits for SummerFest.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Taparjan’s voiceover fills the soundtrack with the same earnestness.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
The violent earnestness is like a speaker-phone therapy session on a crowded subway.
—Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 17 Mar. 2026
That thread of earnestness in the plot and character development definitely makes its way into the finale.
—Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 17 Mar. 2026
Advertisement Reggie Dinkins shares an earnestness with Every Brilliant Thing.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
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
Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
His ability to balance earnestness and whimsy, dedication and delight, have reaped palpable benefits for SummerFest.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Taparjan’s voiceover fills the soundtrack with the same earnestness.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
The violent earnestness is like a speaker-phone therapy session on a crowded subway.
—Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 17 Mar. 2026
That thread of earnestness in the plot and character development definitely makes its way into the finale.
—Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 17 Mar. 2026
Advertisement Reggie Dinkins shares an earnestness with Every Brilliant Thing.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for earnestness
Noun
-
Despite the bitter path to this threshold—the debate started in earnest in 1915—almost no one cheered.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The trial, which is expected to last two weeks, started in earnest on March 10 with opening statements, and three other accusers are poised to testify, the New York Times reported.—
Victoria Bekiempis,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Iran is what Small Diameter Bombs—gravity bombs—are for.—
Garrett M. Graff,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2026
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This research wouldn't have been possible with a quirk of the cosmos first posited by Albert Einstein in his 1915 magnum opus theory of gravity, general relativity.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The comedy that lives beyond that frame deserves its own telling, with the same seriousness and depth.—
Geoff Bennett,
The Atlantic,
13 Apr. 2026
-
There is a playfulness in the day and there’s a seriousness at night.—
Jerald “Coop” Cooper,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Earnestness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earnestness. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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