HUMORLESSNESS Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

humorlessness

noun

as in earnestness

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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 humorlessness One of my major disappointments in a lot of the writing was its humorlessness. — Diya Chacko, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for humorlessness

Noun

Elizabeth Strout illustrates a kind man with an endearing earnestness about him who struggles with the fact that the world is not so simple anymore.

— Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
The diaries—particularly in Julian Sachs’s unexpurgated version, which captures Pavese’s alternating earnestness, archness, and pungent vulgarity—pose something of a problem.

— Max Norman, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of earnestness

Noun

As Agathe comes to understand the extent of her troubles, Exarchopoulos’ performance achieves a sorrowful gravitas.

— Jon Frosch, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Jan. 2023
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

Definition of gravitas

Noun

Scientists are beginning to treat gravity almost like a drug, varying its strength, duration, and frequency on the human body to learn what dose might keep astronauts healthy and whether the same stimulus could help rehabilitate patients on Earth.

— Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 29 Sep. 2026
The off-the-shoulder sleeves harkened to a slight Victorian era style, with a voluminous design and gravity-defying appearance.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of gravity

Noun

By May 2026, all 11 of xAI’s original cofounders had departed the company, a cascade that began in earnest in February when Tony Wu, described as one of the most operationally central cofounders, announced his resignation.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 June 2026
Modern viticulture began in earnest here in the 1970s before blossoming in the ’90s.

— Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 June 2026

Definition of earnest

Noun

Their extraordinary height, massive trunks and quiet solemnity really moved me.

— Antonia Bowring, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Gore is best known for Make America Great Again, her 2016 naked portrait of Trump with the paunch and solemnity of the great men of art history, adding, crucially, the tiniest of compensatory micropenises.

— Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026

Definition of solemnity

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humorless

humorlessness

humorous

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“Humorlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humorlessness. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of humorlessness

noun

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