Antonyms for earnest
| Grammar : Adj |
| Spell : ur-nist |
| Phonetic Transcription : ˈɜr nɪst |
Definition of earnest
Origin :- from Old English eornoste (adj.) "zealous," or from Old English noun eornost "seriousness, serious intent" (surviving only in the phrase in earnest), from Proto-Germanic *ern "vigor, briskness" (cf. Old Saxon ernust, Old High German arnust "seriousness, firmness, struggle," German Ernst "seriousness;" Gothic arniba "safely, securely;" Old Norse ern "able, vigorous," jarna "fight, combat"). The proper name Ernest (literally "resolute") is from the same root. Related: Earnestly; earnestness.
- adj very enthusiastic
- adj serious; very important
- As Philothea turned towards her companion, she met Aspasia's earnest gaze.
- Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
- She had feared he might rush his proposal through that night; he had been so much in earnest.
- Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
- But I came in time to see that he was not as earnest as I had been.
- Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
- They would serve to shew me, she was pleased to say, how much in earnest my father was.
- Extract from : « Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9) » by Samuel Richardson
- Nor will any body else believe you in earnest in the offer, if I would.
- Extract from : « Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9) » by Samuel Richardson
- That the speaker was in earnest there could be no manner of question.
- Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald
- All about Christian work, and about being in earnest, because the time was short.
- Extract from : « Ester Ried Yet Speaking » by Isabella Alden
- The question of what to wear became, for the men, an earnest one.
- Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
- It you are in earnest about it, Mrs. Menotti, I will look about a little.
- Extract from : « Rico and Wiseli » by Johanna Spyri
- We got so in earnest that I am afraid both of us were rather tense.
- Extract from : « Her Father's Daughter » by Gene Stratton-Porter
Synonyms for earnest
- ardent
- busy
- close
- constant
- determined
- devoted
- diligent
- eager
- fervent
- fervid
- firm
- fixed
- for real
- grave
- heartfelt
- impassioned
- industrious
- intent
- keen
- mean business
- meaningful
- no-fooling
- no-nonsense
- passionate
- perseverant
- playing hard ball
- purposeful
- resolute
- resolved
- sedate
- sedulous
- sincere
- sober
- solemn
- somber
- stable
- staid
- steady
- thoughtful
- urgent
- vehement
- warm
- weighty
- wholehearted
- zealous
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019