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Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of solemn are earnest, grave, sedate, serious, sober, and staid. While all these words mean "not light or frivolous," solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity.

a sad and solemn occasion

When is it sensible to use earnest instead of solemn?

While the synonyms earnest and solemn are close in meaning, earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose.

an earnest reformer

When might grave be a better fit than solemn?

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

read the proclamation in a grave voice

When would sedate be a good substitute for solemn?

Although the words sedate and solemn have much in common, sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness.

remained sedate amid the commotion

Where would serious be a reasonable alternative to solemn?

In some situations, the words serious and solemn are roughly equivalent. However, serious implies a concern for what really matters.

a serious play about social injustice

In what contexts can sober take the place of solemn?

The words sober and solemn can be used in similar contexts, but sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity.

a sober look at the state of our schools

When could staid be used to replace solemn?

The words staid and solemn are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 solemn From solemn oaths to intricate voting procedures and the famed white smoke, here’s how the centuries-old process unfolds. Henrik Pettersson, CNN Money, 6 May 2025 The solemn ceremony will surely draw world leaders from around the globe. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025 Far from solemn, the atmosphere has turned into a party of thousands. Katie Primm, NBC news, 9 May 2025 Over the decades, observance of V-E Day in the West has assumed a more muted, solemn tone. Noah Rothman, National Review, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for solemn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for solemn
Adjective
  • The far more imposing limit is MLS’s global standing.
    Jeff Rueter, The Athletic, 8 Feb. 2025
  • And on the other hand, in a world where most of their top arms remain healthy and effective, the Dodgers could possess one of the most imposing starting pitching staffs in recent memory.
    Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • With limited flexibility and few valuable trade assets, Milwaukee faces serious hurdles in building a contender around Antetokounmpo.
    Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
  • Improper neck manipulation or excessive force can lead to serious injury, including nerve damage and muscle strain.
    Lindsay Curtis, Health, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • That’s the question writer-director Ari Aster’s somber comedy-Western Eddington, playing in competition here at the Cannes Film Festival, appears to be asking.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 17 May 2025
  • Rayburn partners up with local sheriff Alice Gustafson (Annabelle Wallis) in a somber yet tumultuous pursuit of a killer who uses brutal traps and primal tactics.
    Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • Udit Mehrotra is a distinguished product leader who currently serves as Head of Product Management for Customer Experience at Amazon Canada.
    Udit Mehrotra, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
  • Cruise will be honoured by the BFI on Monday with the awarding of a distinguished BFI Fellowship.
    Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • And Hannah Waddingham gives a good, stern space-lady as the voice of the Galactic Grand Councilwoman.
    EW.com, EW.com, 20 May 2025
  • In Kurosawa’s version, the chauffeur was an exceedingly meek man who got down on the floor to beg his stern shoe-manufacturer boss, played by the great Toshiro Mifune, to save his son.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • The latest Email Threat Trends Report from VIPRE paints a bleak picture.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
  • Related article Putin just called Trump’s bluff on Ukraine, with the Russian art of the ‘no’ deal Ukraine in 2025 is a bleak prospect.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • Catholic social teaching affirms the right of individuals to migrate in pursuit of safety and a dignified life.
    Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 12 May 2025
  • Downey emphasized the importance of designing shelters that are dignified and senior-friendly, while Cardenas described how Alpha Project customizes its services to meet the diverse needs of families and individuals facing complex health conditions.
    News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 May 2025
Adjective
  • Director Dean Fleischer Camp’s family adventure feels like an excessively earnest Disney Channel movie compared with the delightfully unhinged 2002 cartoon.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 21 May 2025
  • Blissfully, the 2002 film Lilo & Stitch gets an adaptation that is vibrant, whimsical, and earnest (and also cute and fluffy!).
    EW.com, EW.com, 20 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Solemn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solemn. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on solemn

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