SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
earnest
adjective
Showing sincere, serious, and determined purpose.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Sincerely serious
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topEarnest emphasizes genuine purpose; solemn adds a grave manner that need not always be present.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See earnest in use
Her earnest request persuaded the group to reconsider the unfinished proposal.
After the schedule was corrected, Noor made an earnest effort to rebuild the group's confidence, listening carefully to each performer's remaining concern.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license