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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The earnestness transferred into the character and lifted it.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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Critically blasted but massively popular with audiences, this dream project is the height of kitsch, somehow made palatable by Richard’s characteristic earnestness.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 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
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But this reboot had gravitas, for Larroquette at least.—
Alexis Soloski,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2023
Noun
-
There’s a seriousness about her.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
15 Feb. 2026
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Yet, as stretched as Newcastle’s squad is, their progress in so many competitions also reflects the seriousness with which Howe is taking them all.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The venue change made for a tidy metaphor, but this was a shift in gravity.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2026
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Defying gravity, The Rookie Season 8 premiere was up from last season’s premiere in MP+3 viewership, ranking as the show’s biggest premiere on streaming and among Top 5 ABC premieres of all time.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The guard's Basij force likely was key in putting down the demonstrations, starting in earnest from Jan. 8, when authorities cut off the internet and international telephone calls for the nation of 85 million people.—
SAM McNEIL AND JON GAMBRELL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
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The film fully wears its heart on its sleeve, telling an earnest (if familiar) story of love and commitment through hardship.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 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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To that point, Lent is not all solemnity.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
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On February 10, after notching a silver in the men’s classic sprint, Ogden–six feet tall and lanky, with a bushy mustache–broke the solemnity of the medals ceremony.—
Bill Donahue,
Outside,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Humorlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humorlessness. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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