more serious

ADJECTIVE

somber, humorless

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deliberate genuine honest severe sincere thoughtful

STRONG

sober

WEAK

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

Antonyms

STRONGEST

deceptive dishonest false insincere misleading untrustworthy

WEAK

flippant funny happy light minor trivial unimportant unserious

ADJECTIVE

crucial, weighty

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dangerous deep difficult far-reaching grievous important major meaningful severe significant tough urgent

WEAK

arduous fateful fell formidable grave grim hard heavy laborious meaning business menacing momentous no joke no laughing matter of consequence operose out for blood playing hard ball pressing smoking sobering strenuous strictly business threatening ugly unamusing unhumorous worrying

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm easy facile friendly insignificant little meaningless minor small trivial unimportant worthless

WEAK

flippant funny happy light unserious

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.

Throughout the video, Parton weaved her cheery demeanor and wit in with the more serious tidbits about her health and grief.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026

He said Shine's injuries were more serious but doctors were "optimistic" that he would make a full recovery, adding "it may be a longer one".

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

Trump said later Saturday that he initially thought a tray had been dropped on the floor, but his wife worried it sounded more serious.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

The numbers were even higher for hospitalizations where the health effects were more serious or fatal.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

Hidden away as they are in the bowels of the earth, to protect them from the casual intruder, they must have been considered far more serious than decoration.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson