as in earnestness
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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
Diya Chacko, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humorlessness
Noun
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Amid the early-spring lightness of the filmmaking, Fukada values softly plainspoken earnestness of emotion, as his repressed, recessive characters learn to listen to their own impulses in the general stillness that surrounds them.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
13 May 2026
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Kapetan’s yearning, intimate voice is still front and center, mixing and modernizing elements of favorites of the aughts like Conor Oberst (his earnestness), Ben Kweller (his wit), and Sufjan Stevens (his beauty).—
Brendan Hay,
SPIN,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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As Agathe comes to understand the extent of her troubles, Exarchopoulos’ performance achieves a sorrowful gravitas.—
Jon Frosch,
The Hollywood Reporter,
23 Jan. 2023
-
But this reboot had gravitas, for Larroquette at least.—
Alexis Soloski,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2023
Noun
-
There’s a seriousness in their demeanor.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
9 May 2026
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In all seriousness, maybe Brian Kelly is just ahead of the curve on this one.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Noun
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Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is pivotal in mitigating the risk of wildfires during these perilous conditions.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
12 May 2026
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Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater Beach, Florida, takes a different approach with Nap Therapy — a spa session on hydraulic zero-gravity beds where guests are encouraged to fall asleep during the treatment.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
12 May 2026
Noun
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While the high will hover close to 90 on Monday, the heat could hit in earnest on Tuesday.—
Hali Smith,
Idaho Statesman,
8 May 2026
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Then the Dodgers’ bats heated up in earnest.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Noun
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Because of the way the director works, emotions tend to be more discussed than felt, although there’s something about Carla’s desperation that pierces through all the soberness.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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For McQuoid, that appears to mean making a film devoid of color, shooting the incoherent fight sequences against murky backdrops, and treating the origin story of secondary protagonist Kitana (Adeline Rudolph) with the solemnity of a biblical reading.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
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There were plenty of moments of silliness to go along with the solemnity in Tuesday’s show.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Humorlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humorlessness. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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