gravest

Jump To:

serious; gloomy adj.
crucial, dangerous adj.

ADJECTIVE

serious; gloomy

Synonyms

STRONG

dignified dull earnest heavy muted quiet sage sedate sober subdued

WEAK

cold sober deadpan dour grim grim-faced leaden long-faced meaningful no-nonsense ponderous sad saturnine solemn somber staid strictly business thoughtful unsmiling

Antonyms

STRONG

agitated boisterous excited light lively trivial unimportant

WEAK

cheerful frivolous funny happy inconsequential ridiculous silly

ADJECTIVE

crucial, dangerous

Synonyms

STRONG

acute fell heavy killing major pressing threatening

WEAK

afflictive consequential critical deadly destructive dire exigent fatal grievous hazardous important life-and-death momentous of great consequence ominous perilous serious severe significant ugly urgent vital weighty

Antonyms

STRONG

insignificant little small trivial unimportant

WEAK

cheerful frivolous funny happy inconsequential ridiculous silly

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.

See Examples For:

gravest

This year, the United Nations General Assembly backed a resolution declaring the trans-Atlantic slave trade “the gravest crime against humanity.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

This showdown potentially marks the gravest crisis in the court's 24-year history.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

“Genocide” is among the gravest accusations that can be made against a nation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026

The ICC, which has 125 member states, seeks to prosecute individuals responsible for the world's gravest crimes when countries are unwilling or unable to do so themselves.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

His brow was furrowed and he looked very somber, as if he were saying something of the gravest importance.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word