in earnest

ADJECTIVE

sobersided

Synonyms

WEAK

austere bound bound and determined businesslike cold sober contemplative deadpan deliberate determined downbeat earnest funereal genuine go for broke grave grim honest intent long-faced meditative no-nonsense pensive pokerfaced reflective resolute resolved sedate set severe sincere sober solemn staid steady stern thoughtful unhumorous unsmiling weighty

ADVERB

seriously

Synonyms

STRONGEST

actively earnestly passionately sincerely vigorously

STRONG

gravely

WEAK

all joking aside cool it cut the comedy determinedly down fervently for real in all conscience in all seriousness intently purposefully resolutely sedately simmer down soberly solemnly sternly straighten out thoughtfully with a straight face with forethought with sobriety zealously

Antonyms

WEAK

casually funnily lightly minor trivially

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“If hostilities were to resume in earnest, we could see prices move towards $150 per barrel,” Rystad Energy estimates.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

It offers eternal love, betrayal, regret and redemption, in earnest if not always logical fashion.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

The 2026-27 campaign starts in earnest with the EFL Cup first round - which West Ham will be in - on 8-9 August.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

Even before the summer rush, which begins in earnest in a few days with Memorial Day weekend, California’s most visited national park is seeing enormous crowds.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

They jostled and bumped one another, laughing, stamping their feet against the cold snap that had surprised the city this week, the last gasp of winter before spring began in earnest.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

in earnest

Example Sentences

Related Words