grave 1 of 3

noun

ˈgrāv How to pronounce grave (audio)
Definition of gravenext
1
as in tomb
a final resting place for a dead person the forlorn boy put flowers on his mother's grave

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in death
the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities a rock star who found his early grave in a plane crash

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dead
the state of being dead a terrible fear of the grave

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grave

2 of 3

adjective

ˈgrāv How to pronounce grave (audio)
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
as in dangerous
involving potential loss or injury going over Niagara Falls poses a grave danger

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in solemn
not joking or playful in mood or manner when I asked him how his dog was doing, he looked grave and said, "Not good"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in deep
having a low musical pitch or range a grave hexachord

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grave

3 of 3

verb

ˈgrāv How to pronounce grave (audio)
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

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

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
Hannah then set out to find Katharine’s grave. —Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 13 Mar. 2026 Johnny wants to move the grave to Pittsburgh. —Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Now they were confronted with the grave threat that American citizens were being radicalized online. —Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026 At the same time, the fossil-fuel-production system has costs, too, not least the grave environmental and health impacts on communities, which differ substantively from the impacts of a solar or wind farm. —Meera Subramanian, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
Las acciones de Google son especialmente insensibles y graves ante el cierre administrativo temporal del gobierno (shutdown), ignorando las peticiones de funcionarios gubernamentales y organizaciones hispanas que les solicitaron mantener la programación de Univision en el paquete principal. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025 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
  1. tomb
  2. death
  3. dead
  4. serious
  5. dangerous
  6. solemn
  7. deep
  8. etch
Noun
  • The tomb was right there in front of me.
    — Talla Mountjoy, Twin Cities, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Discovery tales → Archaeologists uncovered a 1,000-year-old tomb containing gold chest plates, ear ornaments and other elite burial treasures.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Definition of tomb
Noun
  • Themes of self-sacrifice dance around the script, but for a film that deals with such dark ideas as isolation and death in space, the film undermines its own pathos at every opportunity.
    — Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2026
  • The Cook County medical examiner’s office confirmed the death, but withheld his identity.
    — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of death
Noun
  • Officers met with medics at the scene who declared an adult female dead.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
  • But fear of the difficult dead neither originated in nor has been confined to the nineteenth-century European re-imaginings of Vlad the Impaler.
    — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
Definition of dead
Adjective
  • The most serious mid-air collision involving the plane happened in 1966, when a B-52 bomber carrying nuclear bombs struck a tanker near Palomares, Spain.
    — Kim Tong-Hyung, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Minarik warned that, absent serious cost-cutting reforms, of which TrumpRx is but a small part, healthcare is only going to become more expensive.
    — Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
Definition of serious
Adjective
  • The private weather service AccuWeather calculated that more than 200 million people were under threat Monday of some kind of dangerous weather.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Prominent quartz slab makers acknowledge that processing produces dangerous dust, but claim risks are avoidable.
    — Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
Definition of dangerous
Adjective
  • The solemn Moon is stepping into Capricorn, awakening your 12th House of Solitude and Healing.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Good Friday is a solemn day for Christians, who may reflect, fast and attend special church services.
    — Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Mar. 2026
Definition of solemn
Adjective
  • Accessibility The property is deep in the jungle and has many winding paths and stairs to common areas, restaurants, and certain guest rooms.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Mar. 2026
  • As one leg swings forward, the other needs to help stabilize your pelvis and trunk — requiring coordinated engagement from your deep core, glute, hip and leg muscles.
    — Dana Santas, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
Definition of deep
Verb
  • Bromine — used in etching processes that cut circuit patterns into wafers — is another element in the spotlight.
    — Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Frequent use at a high concentration can etch and dull the surface or leave a hazy appearance.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
Definition of etch

Browse Nearby Words

gratuity
grave
graved
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grave. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on grave

Nglish: Translation of grave for Spanish Speakers

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