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
The earnestness transferred into the character and lifted it.
—
Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Critically blasted but massively popular with audiences, this dream project is the height of kitsch, somehow made palatable by Richard’s characteristic earnestness.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 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
There are times in which Moonglow feels like an amateur production, even if the craft level remains high and Sandoval’s earnestness in capturing the genre’s essence feels admirable.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
With a sprinkle of '80s nonsensical wit, Splash is an easy-breezy watch that finds its place in the sun by being ridiculously campy while grounding itself in earnestness, thanks to Hanks and Hannah's bewitching lead performances.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Jan. 2026
And his earnestness is inspiring.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2026
Craigslist nostalgia Craigslist, the decades-old online classifieds site, is still the go-to platform for some millennials who are nostalgic for the earnestness of the early web.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 13 Jan. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Critically blasted but massively popular with audiences, this dream project is the height of kitsch, somehow made palatable by Richard’s characteristic earnestness.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 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
There are times in which Moonglow feels like an amateur production, even if the craft level remains high and Sandoval’s earnestness in capturing the genre’s essence feels admirable.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
With a sprinkle of '80s nonsensical wit, Splash is an easy-breezy watch that finds its place in the sun by being ridiculously campy while grounding itself in earnestness, thanks to Hanks and Hannah's bewitching lead performances.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Jan. 2026
And his earnestness is inspiring.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2026
Craigslist nostalgia Craigslist, the decades-old online classifieds site, is still the go-to platform for some millennials who are nostalgic for the earnestness of the early web.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 13 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for earnestness
Noun
-
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
-
The film fully wears its heart on its sleeve, telling an earnest (if familiar) story of love and commitment through hardship.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The venue change made for a tidy metaphor, but this was a shift in gravity.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Defying gravity, The Rookie Season 8 premiere was up from last season’s premiere in MP+3 viewership, ranking as the show’s biggest premiere on streaming and among Top 5 ABC premieres of all time.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There’s a seriousness about her.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Yet, as stretched as Newcastle’s squad is, their progress in so many competitions also reflects the seriousness with which Howe is taking them all.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Earnestness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earnestness. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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