as in intentness
a mental state free of jesting or trifling
we knew from the doctor's seriousness that she didn't have good news
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of seriousness
Some critics have interpreted the ending as a glib last-minute twist that threatens to neutralize the story’s potency and dismisses the seriousness of the movie’s premise.
—
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025
Industry platforms such as Hong Kong Fashion Fest, initiated and supported by the HKSAR government, should be leveraged not just as celebrations of creativity, but as global stages to showcase our seriousness and leadership in sustainability.
—Sunny Tan, Sourcing Journal, 22 Oct. 2025
The escalating, hysterical hijinks are grounded in convincing dramatic stakes, and only our comic heroes are allowed to be funny, as the monster actors dutifully honor the hammy seriousness of their characters.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
According to the Roberts Commission of 1942, the key lesson was the need to treat enemy intentions and public warnings with far greater seriousness than before.
—Big Think, 20 Oct. 2025
There’s no feigned seriousness, no proclamations of honesty.
—T. M. Brown, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2025
The system was elevated to ministerial status by Prime Minister Edi Rama to signal his seriousness in tackling corruption, and his commitment to institutionalizing advanced technologies.
—Tharin Pillay, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
There’s an integrity and seriousness of intent.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
In all seriousness, this love scene is so sweet and slow, and really nicely done.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 10 Oct. 2025
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025
Industry platforms such as Hong Kong Fashion Fest, initiated and supported by the HKSAR government, should be leveraged not just as celebrations of creativity, but as global stages to showcase our seriousness and leadership in sustainability.
—Sunny Tan, Sourcing Journal, 22 Oct. 2025
The escalating, hysterical hijinks are grounded in convincing dramatic stakes, and only our comic heroes are allowed to be funny, as the monster actors dutifully honor the hammy seriousness of their characters.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
According to the Roberts Commission of 1942, the key lesson was the need to treat enemy intentions and public warnings with far greater seriousness than before.
—Big Think, 20 Oct. 2025
There’s no feigned seriousness, no proclamations of honesty.
—T. M. Brown, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2025
The system was elevated to ministerial status by Prime Minister Edi Rama to signal his seriousness in tackling corruption, and his commitment to institutionalizing advanced technologies.
—Tharin Pillay, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
There’s an integrity and seriousness of intent.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
In all seriousness, this love scene is so sweet and slow, and really nicely done.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seriousness
Noun
-
The celebrated sculptor, whose angular, gravity-defying figures are icons of modern art, spent his life exploring form, balance, and the spaces in between.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Kondo’s version is not necessarily religious, but does certainly come with some of the gravity associated with religion.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Listen to him bum-rush a workers’ union meeting and begin describing, with over-enthusiastic earnestness, how dogs get a raw deal.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Though the score is anthem-heavy and earnestness is always hovering, there are moments in the show that are transcendent.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Certain extreme situations, of course, resist any tone other than solemnity, but not many.—
Willing Davidson,
New Yorker,
19 Oct. 2025
-
There are dozens of little moments of quiet kindness and profound mourning, of gentle reflection and solemnity, of nature reaching out to Atsu, and by proxy, the player.—
Alyssa Mercante,
Rolling Stone,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Seriousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seriousness. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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