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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Recent Examples of seriousness
The 1965 section centers on Basil, played by Gray, alongside Murray, who has a knack for shifting effortlessly between humor and seriousness that commands attention.
—
Amy Reyes, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
The health and safety of our students is our absolute priority, and any report of substandard food service is taken with the utmost seriousness.
—Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
The seriousness of the injury or injuries is also not known, but a school-police source told The Times that an officer was applying a tourniquet to a victim.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
The comedy that lives beyond that frame deserves its own telling, with the same seriousness and depth.
—Geoff Bennett, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026
Smoldering Mars is soaring into your optimistic 5th house, encouraging you to take risks or play around with as little seriousness as possible.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
But seriousness comes with scrutiny, criticism, uncomfortable moments and emotional outbursts.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026
Trump has spent weeks building up military assets in the region, even sending Special Operations teams to the area, reinforcing the seriousness with which his allies are viewing his threat to Iran’s civilian infrastructure.
—Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 7 Apr. 2026
American Vandal is a true-crime parody that sees two teenagers investigate juvenile offenses like graffiti with all the seriousness of Making a Murderer.
—Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Apr. 2026
Amy Reyes, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
The health and safety of our students is our absolute priority, and any report of substandard food service is taken with the utmost seriousness.
—Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
The seriousness of the injury or injuries is also not known, but a school-police source told The Times that an officer was applying a tourniquet to a victim.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
The comedy that lives beyond that frame deserves its own telling, with the same seriousness and depth.
—Geoff Bennett, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026
Smoldering Mars is soaring into your optimistic 5th house, encouraging you to take risks or play around with as little seriousness as possible.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
But seriousness comes with scrutiny, criticism, uncomfortable moments and emotional outbursts.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026
Trump has spent weeks building up military assets in the region, even sending Special Operations teams to the area, reinforcing the seriousness with which his allies are viewing his threat to Iran’s civilian infrastructure.
—Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 7 Apr. 2026
American Vandal is a true-crime parody that sees two teenagers investigate juvenile offenses like graffiti with all the seriousness of Making a Murderer.
—Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seriousness
Noun
-
Iran is what Small Diameter Bombs—gravity bombs—are for.—
Garrett M. Graff,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2026
-
This research wouldn't have been possible with a quirk of the cosmos first posited by Albert Einstein in his 1915 magnum opus theory of gravity, general relativity.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The earnestness of these calls to join is refreshing compared to the distance currently felt in many places, where the disconnection can make neighbors feel like strangers.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
-
But the Explosive News representative spoke of their efforts with a lofty earnestness.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There were plenty of moments of silliness to go along with the solemnity in Tuesday’s show.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Good Friday and Holy Saturday will be observed in local Catholic churches with characteristic solemnity, dignity and beauty.—
From staff reports,
Memphis Commercial Appeal,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Seriousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seriousness. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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