Antonyms for earnestness
| Grammar : Noun |
| Spell : ur-nist |
| Phonetic Transcription : ˈɜr nɪst |
Definition of earnestness
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.
- noun determination; seriousness
- "That is precisely what I wish them to be," responded Grace, in all earnestness.
- Extract from : « Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton Campus » by Jessie Graham Flower
- She spoke quietly enough, but with the earnestness of conviction.
- Extract from : « Ester Ried Yet Speaking » by Isabella Alden
- Earnestness and devotion are the chief characteristics of those pastors.
- Extract from : « Camps, Quarters and Casual Places » by Archibald Forbes
- The earnestness of Sarah's manner subdued and almost awed Fanny.
- Extract from : « Night and Morning, Complete » by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
- I have avowed them with an earnestness that I believe is without example: and why?
- Extract from : « Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9) » by Samuel Richardson
- Miss Merton was moved and surprised by Evelyn's earnestness.
- Extract from : « Alice, or The Mysteries, Complete » by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
- Phoebe in her earnestness forgot to keep within the limitations of their dialect.
- Extract from : « Good Indian » by B. M. Bower
- These words were uttered in Spanish, in a voice that vibrated with earnestness.
- Extract from : « My Double Life » by Sarah Bernhardt
- The poem is full of pathos and humour; full of beauty and grandeur, earnestness and truth.
- Extract from : « A Dish Of Orts » by George MacDonald
- Forgive me this earnestness, but the horrors of a jail have made me half distracted.
- Extract from : « The Letters of Robert Burns » by Robert Burns
Synonyms for earnestness
- absorption
- ardor
- attentiveness
- concentration
- decision
- deliberation
- devotion
- doggedness
- eagerness
- engrossment
- enthusiasm
- fervor
- firmness
- gravity
- intensity
- intentness
- keenness
- passion
- perseverance
- persistence
- purposefulness
- resolution
- resolve
- serious-mindedness
- sincerity
- sobriety
- solemnity
- stress
- tenacity
- urgency
- vehemence
- warmth
- zeal
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019