Definition of seriousnext
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word serious different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of serious are earnest, grave, sedate, sober, solemn, and staid. While all these words mean "not light or frivolous," serious implies a concern for what really matters.

a serious play about social injustice

In what contexts can earnest take the place of serious?

Although the words earnest and serious have much in common, earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose.

an earnest reformer

When would grave be a good substitute for serious?

While in some cases nearly identical to serious, grave implies both seriousness and dignity in expression or attitude.

read the proclamation in a grave voice

When is it sensible to use sedate instead of serious?

While the synonyms sedate and serious are close in meaning, sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness.

remained sedate amid the commotion

Where would sober be a reasonable alternative to serious?

The words sober and serious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity.

a sober look at the state of our schools

When might solemn be a better fit than serious?

The synonyms solemn and serious are sometimes interchangeable, but solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity.

a sad and solemn occasion

When is staid a more appropriate choice than serious?

In some situations, the words staid and serious 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 serious If California is serious about addressing its mental health crisis, policymakers must examine the barriers embedded throughout the professional pathway to becoming a licensed clinical social worker. Luis Contreras, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2026 Like many expectant parents facing a serious prenatal diagnosis, Tom and I rolled up our sleeves and did our homework. Michelle Sie Whitten, STAT, 25 June 2026 In 2023, the FAA recorded 21 serious runway incursions, but so far in 2026, the FAA has reported only four. Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 25 June 2026 Reuters reported that a serious back injury had taken Abunada close to retiring earlier in his career. Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for serious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for serious
Adjective
  • To be fair, abducted 9-year-old Rainy is pretty cute, with solemn eyebrows and a conscience that continually puts her in peril.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
  • The once-rising developer’s solemn promise is not likely to be fulfilled if court records in his federal criminal case and a parallel Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit are any indication.
    Jay Weaver June 6, Miami Herald, 6 June 2026
Adjective
  • To address those concerns, Hulls has committed roughly $15 million to establish the Good Luck Fund, which acquires and preserves properties considered important to the community.
    Kenny Choi, CBS News, 26 June 2026
  • What are the most important values of the community that the superintendent must honor regardless of pressure or politics?
    Samuel O’Neal June 25, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • Others develop dangerous fluctuations in blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms because the autonomic nervous system becomes affected.
    Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 23 June 2026
  • Sometimes, the streets appear glittering; other times, seedy and dangerous.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • Shortness of breath that becomes severe.
    Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 26 June 2026
  • Europe is the planet’s fastest-warming continent and these kinds of extreme heat waves are only expected to become more severe, frequent and prolonged unless humans rapidly phase out fossil fuels, the scientists said.
    Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • The collaboration pairs one of the most recognizable music artists of the last decade with a menu item designed to bring back familiar memories from Fetty Wap’s biggest era, while also celebrating his influence on pop culture and music.
    Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 24 June 2026
  • That quiet recovery is a big reason the procedure has moved from a private secret to something people openly mention.
    Malana VanTyler, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026
Adjective
  • Concrete casing and tubing – used to seal and extract oil – can lose integrity, causing leaks and potential hazardous gas releases.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 24 June 2026
  • Concerns about hazardous chemicals led police to suggest residents evacuate, although many declined.
    Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 24 June 2026
Adjective
  • The school was a dream for a few years, with families talking about the idea, but the actual planning began in earnest last year.
    Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026
  • The result is an earnest tribute to Nicks’ vulnerability, resilience and artistry.
    Suzanne Van Atten, AJC.com, 21 June 2026
Adjective
  • In the footage, three children appear to be emerging from the rubble one after another, seemingly without major injuries, as rescuers provided assistance.
    Will Clark, NBC news, 26 June 2026
  • The announcement came just hours after the Supreme Court handed a major victory to the makers of the weedkiller Roundup, shielding it from thousands of lawsuits from states alleging the company failed to warn people the product could cause cancer.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Serious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/serious. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

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