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.

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in earnest

Let’s start with the winners and losers since the vacation rush began in earnest.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

Corporate earnings season begins again in earnest this week, starting with the big banks and followed up later by major tech companies.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 12, 2026

If petrol prices start dropping in earnest, it could be a tangible sign for Americans that things are getting better.

From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026

Dumbledore gave a little gasp and began to cry in earnest.

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling

in earnest

Example Sentences

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Related Words