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
Amid the early-spring lightness of the filmmaking, Fukada values softly plainspoken earnestness of emotion, as his repressed, recessive characters learn to listen to their own impulses in the general stillness that surrounds them.
—
Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 May 2026
Kapetan’s yearning, intimate voice is still front and center, mixing and modernizing elements of favorites of the aughts like Conor Oberst (his earnestness), Ben Kweller (his wit), and Sufjan Stevens (his beauty).
—Brendan Hay, SPIN, 27 Apr. 2026
Not too serious or sappy, but with room for both earnestness and whimsy.
—New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
The earnestness of these calls to join is refreshing compared to the distance currently felt in many places, where the disconnection can make neighbors feel like strangers.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
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
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
Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 May 2026
Kapetan’s yearning, intimate voice is still front and center, mixing and modernizing elements of favorites of the aughts like Conor Oberst (his earnestness), Ben Kweller (his wit), and Sufjan Stevens (his beauty).
—Brendan Hay, SPIN, 27 Apr. 2026
Not too serious or sappy, but with room for both earnestness and whimsy.
—New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
The earnestness of these calls to join is refreshing compared to the distance currently felt in many places, where the disconnection can make neighbors feel like strangers.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for earnestness
Noun
-
While the high will hover close to 90 on Monday, the heat could hit in earnest on Tuesday.—
Hali Smith,
Idaho Statesman,
8 May 2026
-
Then the Dodgers’ bats heated up in earnest.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is pivotal in mitigating the risk of wildfires during these perilous conditions.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
12 May 2026
-
Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater Beach, Florida, takes a different approach with Nap Therapy — a spa session on hydraulic zero-gravity beds where guests are encouraged to fall asleep during the treatment.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
There’s a seriousness in their demeanor.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
9 May 2026
-
In all seriousness, maybe Brian Kelly is just ahead of the curve on this one.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Earnestness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earnestness. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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