as in gravity
formal
a very serious quality or manner
The new leader has an air of gravitas that commands respect. a comic actress who lacks the gravitas for dramatic roles
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gravitas
Henriksen plays his part to the hilt here, bringing a gravitas that few actors would consider bringing to the role of a shoot-'em-up movie villain.
—
Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 11 Jan. 2023
The nativity story is narrated by the Honorable Milton L. Wright, his voice and demeanor a blend of gravitas and compassion.
—Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Dec. 2022
Singer-songwriter-keyboardist McVie took an important role in its multi-platinum efforts, with her warmth and gravitas balancing the contributions of her younger new bandmates.
—Chris Morris, Variety, 30 Nov. 2022
Tell me about filming that scene and bringing the proper gravitas to a moment like that.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2022
See All Example Sentences for gravitas
Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 11 Jan. 2023
The nativity story is narrated by the Honorable Milton L. Wright, his voice and demeanor a blend of gravitas and compassion.
—Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Dec. 2022
Singer-songwriter-keyboardist McVie took an important role in its multi-platinum efforts, with her warmth and gravitas balancing the contributions of her younger new bandmates.
—Chris Morris, Variety, 30 Nov. 2022
Tell me about filming that scene and bringing the proper gravitas to a moment like that.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2022
See All Example Sentences for gravitas
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gravitas
Noun
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And hopefully, this early public investment will pay off big time as private companies find many commercial uses for low Earth orbit, such as zero-gravity hotels for space tourism or mini-factories for producing specialty materials.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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In this case, the new, smaller black hole that formed from the collision shot through space at more than 31 miles per second – fast enough to escape its host galaxy and the surrounding globular cluster of stars bound together by gravity.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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The earnestness with which chef-couple Sarah Cooper and Alan Hsu approach their vision makes Sun Moon Studio feel like a collaborative culinary experiment, a team project you’ve been invited to join in on.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Slater has met Bersten’s family Bersten revealed the seriousness of his relationship with Slater in a July 2025 Instagram post.—
Alyssa Davis,
PEOPLE,
17 Sep. 2025
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If the meeting proceeds, any recommendations made should be rejected as lacking legitimacy given the seriousness of the allegations and the current turmoil in CDC leadership.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio made that determination earlier this year, citing Khalil's advocacy.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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What’s proven to work well in practice in that local climate zone (search results provide enough clarification for one to swiftly make that determination) is what’s needed.—
Richard Olsen,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The crackdown may only be starting in earnest.—
Juanita Goebertus,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Aug. 2025
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Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid project started in earnest with a 1-0 home win against Osasuna on Tuesday.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Any solemnity that might be engendered by the president accompanied by an official entourage to his private residence near the Spanish Steps is amusingly offset by the robot law enforcement dog leading the way.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Aug. 2025
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Dressed in traditional wear and moving with a studied solemnity, the men remove evidence of Europe from the office.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
IndieWire,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Thirty-three states have enacted legislation regarding school cellphone usage amid a growing push to restrict students’ smartphone access in schools, primarily due to mental health and concerns about academic attentiveness.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
19 Aug. 2025
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This helps replicate the attentiveness of an in-store associate at scale.—
Charisma Glassman,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Most cases of ear pressure resolve on their own, but there are times when medical attention is necessary.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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But the alternative would entail that each accuser has to separately litigate their claim of abuse in the Alameda County Superior Court, a lengthy process that attorneys said could wear out their clients’ resolve.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gravitas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gravitas. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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