earnest

[ur-nist] / ˈɜr nɪst /

ADJECTIVE

very enthusiastic

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ardent diligent fervent heartfelt impassioned passionate purposeful sincere urgent

STRONG

eager keen

WEAK

busy devoted fervid industrious perseverant sedulous vehement warm wholehearted zealous

Antonyms

STRONGEST

apathetic cold cool dispassionate frigid indifferent insincere unenthusiastic unexcited

WEAK

flippant thoughtless trivial unconcerned unimportant unpassionate unpurposeful unserious unthoughtful

ADJECTIVE

serious; very important

Synonyms

STRONGEST

sincere sober solemn somber thoughtful

STRONG

close constant firm grave intent stable steady

WEAK

determined fixed for real mean business meaningful no-fooling no-nonsense playing hard ball resolute resolved sedate staid weighty

Antonyms

STRONG

changeable inconstant irresolute loose unfixed unstable unsteady untrustworthy wavering weak wobbly

WEAK

flippant insincere thoughtless trivial unconcerned unenthusiastic unimportant unpassionate unpurposeful unserious unthoughtful

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.

He became chairman in January 2025 and succession planning began in earnest.

From Los Angeles Times

I looked over at Baby Joe, curled up on his mat, remembering the earnest look in his eyes that had reminded me my life mattered.

From Literature

The Grammy winner also gave an earnest explanation for why AI has no place in his creative process.

From Los Angeles Times

This was her experiment: careful, earnest, painfully homemade.

From Literature

Corny folks tend to be honest and earnest in their aims, and the best don’t care what people think.

From Salon