as in intentness
a mental state free of jesting or trifling
practiced the art of acting with great earnestness
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of earnestness
Hence, this nimble, propulsive movie, given a loose intimacy by Juan Sarmiento’s 16mm cinematography, proves to be oddly heartfelt when seemingly most cruel about Oscar’s hapless earnestness.
—
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
With a sprinkle of '80s nonsensical wit, Splash is an easy-breezy watch that finds its place in the sun by being ridiculously campy while grounding itself in earnestness, thanks to Hanks and Hannah's bewitching lead performances.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Jan. 2026
And his earnestness is inspiring.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2026
Craigslist nostalgia Craigslist, the decades-old online classifieds site, is still the go-to platform for some millennials who are nostalgic for the earnestness of the early web.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 13 Jan. 2026
Do not let Fernando Mendoza’s earnestness fool you.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
Please pardon the forthcoming earnestness.
—Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 9 Jan. 2026
The current leading lights in rock are largely admired for their raw earnestness.
—Armin Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Part of what comes to me, Roxana, is my sincerity and my earnestness.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Jan. 2026
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
With a sprinkle of '80s nonsensical wit, Splash is an easy-breezy watch that finds its place in the sun by being ridiculously campy while grounding itself in earnestness, thanks to Hanks and Hannah's bewitching lead performances.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Jan. 2026
And his earnestness is inspiring.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2026
Craigslist nostalgia Craigslist, the decades-old online classifieds site, is still the go-to platform for some millennials who are nostalgic for the earnestness of the early web.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 13 Jan. 2026
Do not let Fernando Mendoza’s earnestness fool you.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
Please pardon the forthcoming earnestness.
—Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 9 Jan. 2026
The current leading lights in rock are largely admired for their raw earnestness.
—Armin Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Part of what comes to me, Roxana, is my sincerity and my earnestness.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for earnestness
Noun
-
The parallel: Reid had known Spagnuolo for decades, starting in earnest when Reid was an assistant coach at Mizzou and Spagnuolo was a frequent visitor.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Negotiations to establish the bank started in earnest in 2014, as several Asian economies like India and Indonesia chose to join the new institution as members.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
14 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Most agree that simple gravity took over afterward.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Both parties are being pulled into this gravity well.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the years following Wallace’s death, this aura of saintliness likely derived from the combination of his moral seriousness as a fiction writer—his attunement to the heroism of private suffering and emotional endurance—and the fact of his premature end.—
Hermione Hoby,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Teshuva requires internal reflection, genuine remorse, and an acknowledgement of the seriousness of harm caused.—
Guila Benchimol,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Earnestness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earnestness. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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