grave 1 of 3

grave

2 of 3

adjective

1
as in serious
having a matter of importance as its topic leaving gossip and celebrities to other magazines, this journal focuses on the grave issues confronting the nation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4

grave

3 of 3

verb

as in to etch
to cut (as letters or designs) on a hard surface the doomed climber graved his initials into the rock face

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of grave are earnest, sedate, serious, sober, solemn, and staid. While all these words mean "not light or frivolous," grave implies both seriousness and dignity in expression or attitude.

read the proclamation in a grave voice

When can earnest be used instead of grave?

The synonyms earnest and grave are sometimes interchangeable, but earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose.

an earnest reformer

Where would sedate be a reasonable alternative to grave?

The words sedate and grave can be used in similar contexts, but sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness.

remained sedate amid the commotion

When would serious be a good substitute for grave?

While the synonyms serious and grave are close in meaning, serious implies a concern for what really matters.

a serious play about social injustice

In what contexts can sober take the place of grave?

Although the words sober and grave have much in common, sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity.

a sober look at the state of our schools

When is solemn a more appropriate choice than grave?

The words solemn and grave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity.

a sad and solemn occasion

When might staid be a better fit than grave?

In some situations, the words staid and grave are roughly equivalent. However, 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 grave
Noun
Reports of war crimes, rapes, torture, and mass graves in places like Bucha, Irpyn, and other towns have shocked the world. Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025 In Variety's new profile of the Hollywood Forever Cemetery — the legendary resting place for many industry titans in Los Angeles — co-owner Tyler Cassity revealed that Yelchin's parents, Irina and Viktor, visit the actor's grave nearly every day, nine years after his tragic death at 27. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 14 June 2025
Adjective
Based on the grave items discovered at the site, the people buried there could be members of the noble household and possibly even the main family, according to experts. Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 19 June 2025 To this day, there’s a bird figurine placed at their grave site. Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 19 June 2025
Verb
Better yet, the superstar—who recently graved our TV screens on The White Lotus—worked with stylist Brett Alan Nelson to deliver custom outfits for the set. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 19 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grave
Noun
  • Visitors walk among ancient walls and tombs, uncovering stories that span from Roman London to World War II.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • Known both as a common crop mold and a lurking danger in ancient tombs, its spores have been linked to mysterious deaths — from King Tutankhamun’s 1920s excavation to a 1970s Polish royal tomb incident that apparently killed several archaeologists.
    Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • When the news broke of his death on Jan. 10, 2016, fans across the globe grieved and paid tribute to the legend.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2025
  • There were five jail deaths in 2024 and nine in 2023, after 19 in 2022 and 16 in 2021.
    Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 21 June 2025
Noun
  • Five minutes later, officers found the 26-year-old dead with a gunshot wound.
    Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 26 June 2025
  • As Joel talks to Ellie, a different solemn moment unfolds in Salt Lake City, where the young survivors of Joel’s Firefly massacre bury their dead and try to figure out what happened.
    Keith Phipps, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Some 182 people with serious mental illness in the city jails are waiting for one of those beds, city correction officials said Thursday.
    Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 29 June 2025
  • Historians often describe Flammarion more as a popularizer than a serious scientist, but this should not diminish his accomplishments.
    Matthew Shindell, Space.com, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • And the Santa Barbara temblor revealed just how dangerous brick buildings built in that era could be.
    Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
  • After landing, the most dangerous times, statistically speaking, are takeoff, approach, and initial climb.
    Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • In the procedural drama, Rodríguez brings to life a multi-layered and solemn character shaped by a traumatic childhood — abused within the foster care system, with no knowledge of his origins, and struggling with severe dyslexia.
    Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • This protection -- known as the seal of confession -- is among the oldest and most solemn obligations in the Catholic Church, grounded in the Church’s teaching that, in the sacrament, penitents are confidentially confessing to and receiving forgiveness from God.
    Hiram Sasser, National Review, 15 June 2025
Adjective
  • What people have not always had is either the awareness or deep enough pockets, which means FIFA should reduce prices and fill these stadiums.
    The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • Many of those affected are still caught in a holding pattern, trying to figure out how to receive their passports, while others have conflicting emotions as the policy's impact went far deeper than just not having a passport.
    Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • And a young singer-songwriter from Oakland, Calif. was etching the first outlines of her music career.
    Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 24 June 2025
  • It's etched so clearly into their minds, and with an ever-growing slate of references across media, it's earned a long-term spot in the cultural zeitgeist.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 24 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grave. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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