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earnest

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word earnest different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of earnest are grave, sedate, serious, sober, solemn, and staid. While all these words mean "not light or frivolous," earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose.

an earnest reformer

In what contexts can grave take the place of earnest?

The words grave and earnest can be used in similar contexts, but grave implies both seriousness and dignity in expression or attitude.

read the proclamation in a grave voice

When is it sensible to use sedate instead of earnest?

The synonyms sedate and earnest are sometimes interchangeable, but sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness.

remained sedate amid the commotion

Where would serious be a reasonable alternative to earnest?

The words serious and earnest are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, serious implies a concern for what really matters.

a serious play about social injustice

When can sober be used instead of earnest?

In some situations, the words sober and earnest are roughly equivalent. However, sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity.

a sober look at the state of our schools

When might solemn be a better fit than earnest?

Although the words solemn and earnest have much in common, solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity.

a sad and solemn occasion

When is staid a more appropriate choice than earnest?

While the synonyms staid and earnest are close in meaning, staid suggests a settled, accustomed sedateness and prim self-restraint.

a quiet and staid community

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of earnest
Adjective
Back in 2023, a video falsely claiming a Bushwick grocery store was the chain’s first NYC location sparked confusion and long lines, with crowds wrapping around the block to glimpse what turned out to be a very earnest City Fresh Market. Oren Peleg, HollywoodReporter, 20 Sep. 2025 The attempt to strike some more earnest dramatic notes later on don’t quite land. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
Earnings seasons get going in earnest over the coming week, with Wall Street eager to find out how much of the tariff are impacting margins. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 13 July 2025 The contract can’t be made official until the start of the new league year when free agency starts in earnest on Wednesday at 4 p.m. Brown has a background with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero as well as new outside linebackers coach A.C. Carter. Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for earnest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for earnest
Adjective
  • Models walking the runway — staged at the Pinacoteca di Brera museum — had solemn expressions on their faces.
    Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
  • If anything, their Didi and Gogo (Winter plays the former, the more cerebral and anxious of the two, and Reeves the latter, the disgruntled yet tender beta clown) are still a little on the solemn side.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Roundabouts help eliminate the types of crashes more likely to cause serious injuries or death.
    Eric D. Lawrence, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025
  • The production came just in time to help the Angels (72-88) put a serious dent in the Astros’ chances of going to the playoffs.
    Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 27 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • When there is a buck to be made, a rapidly emerging necessity can be met with ardent earnestness.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • For the Television Academy to recognize Hiller’s role in this show seems like a vote not just for a moving and intuitive performance, but also for earnestness.
    Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • That led Judge Cannon to temporarily halt the proceedings and issue Routh a stern warning.
    Greg Allen, NPR, 23 Sep. 2025
  • High-profile stars and politicians of all creeds have been up in arms and ABC owner Disney has come in for particularly stern criticism over the very live situation.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In vacuum and one-sixth gravity, lubricants boil off, moving parts behave differently, and remote or autonomous operation is necessary because of the time delay between Earth and Moon, which makes real-time teleoperation impractical.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Best Early Amazon Prime Day STEM Toy Deals Encourage early learning with age-appropriate STEM toys, like a marble run that helps kids learn about gravity and other basic physics principles.
    Anja Webb, Parents, 24 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Earnest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earnest. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

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