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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dangerous
involving potential loss or injury going over Niagara Falls poses a grave danger

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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"

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

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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

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
Monster is pretty consistent with the details of the atrocities Gein confessed to, including hanging Bernice’s body up in a shed, shooting Mary Hogan, and grave-robbing from the cemetery. —Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2025 Ed Gein, who became infamous for crimes committed in rural Plainfield, Wisconsin, admitted to the killing of two women and stealing corpses from graves. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Paul Thomas Anderon’s newest movie is very much a comedy, but Hall is mostly on hand during its graver political insinuations. —Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025 In heavy rain, refrain from parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a grave danger. —Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 29 Sep. 2025
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
  • Firemen in their command center calm the fears of the locals who call in, law enforcement tracks down tomb robbers, while in the port of Torre Annunziata, Syrian tankers unload Ukrainian grain.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Research on ancient Egypt is largely biased toward the elite, whose spectacular tombs, monuments, and artifacts have been the dominant focus.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
Definition of tomb
Noun
  • The pedestrian’s death marks Kansas City’s 52nd traffic fatality of 2025, compared to 73 fatalities at the time last year, Becchina said.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Soon after Kirk’s death, supporters of the 31-year-old conservative activist began to grapple, publicly, with conflicting narratives about his stance on Israel.
    — Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Definition of death
Noun
  • The findings from Southeast Asia push back the timeline of humans using mummification to preserve their dead by thousands of years, said lead study author Dr. Hsiao-chun Hung, a senior research fellow at Australian National University.
    — Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
  • It was built to honor the Confederate dead of Chowan County.
    — Ashley J. DiMella, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Definition of dead
Adjective
  • From a potentially serious injury sustained by linebacker Dwight Nunoo to a multitude of mistakes, Saturday’s 51-10 loss to the host Connecticut Huskies (4-2) was devastating to FIU (2-3).
    — Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025
  • This was a period of serious violence in Argentina, with the most notable death in footballing terms being the assassination of General Omar Actis, the head of the World Cup organising committee.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
Definition of serious
Adjective
  • So quick, so dangerous in the final third, and surely so motivated to revive his career in a World Cup year.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • But even hanging around the base camp can be dangerous, as hundreds of holiday makers were trapped when the area was hit in an unexpected blizzard over the weekend.
    — Kaijing Xiao, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2025
Definition of dangerous
Adjective
  • Yom Kippur is the most solemn Jewish holiday, marking the end of the 10 Days of Repentance that begin with Rosh Hashanah.
    — Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Models walking the runway — staged at the Pinacoteca di Brera museum — had solemn expressions on their faces.
    — Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Definition of solemn
Adjective
  • Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Driving through deep water can also damage a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 4 Oct. 2025
Definition of deep
Verb
  • And with Çalhanoğlu carving his own legacy in northern Italy both on-and-off the field, his name may be etched in Italian folklore forever.
    — William Jones, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Now, at the age of 43, Brækhus is ready to hang up her gloves, her far-reaching legacy already etched into boxing’s history books as the first-ever undisputed women’s world champion.
    — George Ramsay, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
Definition of etch

Browse Nearby Words

gratuity
grave
graved
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Cite this Entry

“Grave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grave. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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