Synonyms for earnestness
earnest·ness

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. earnestness

   The old meaning of enthusiasm implies a pseudo-inspiration, an almost frantic extravagance in behalf of something supposed to be an expression of the divine will. This sense remains as the controlling one in the kindred noun enthusiast. Enthusiasm has now chiefly the meaning of an earnest and commendable devotion, an intense and eager interest. Against the hindrances of the world, nothing great and good can be carried without a certain fervor, intensity, and vehemence; these joined with faith, courage, and hopefulness make enthusiasm. Zeal is burning earnestness, always tending to vigorous action with all the devotion of enthusiasm, tho often without its hopefulness. Compare EAGER.

   Synonyms:
   ardor, devotion, eagerness, ecstasy, enthusiasm, excitement, extravagance, fanaticism, fervency, fervor, frenzy, inspiration, intensity, passion, rapture, transport, vehemence, warmth, zeal

   Antonyms:
   calculation, calmness, caution, coldness, deadness, dulness, indifference, lukewarmness, policy, prudence, timidity, wariness

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. earnestness, seriousness, sinceritynoun

   an earnest and sincere feeling

   Synonyms:
   unassumingness, seriousness, distressfulness, sincerity, serious-mindedness

2. seriousness, earnestness, serious-mindedness, sinceritynoun

   the trait of being serious

   "a lack of solemnity is not necessarily a lack of seriousness"- Robert Rice

   Synonyms:
   unassumingness, seriousness, distressfulness, sincerity, serious-mindedness

Matched Categories

1. • Trait

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. earnestnessnoun

   Synonyms:
   ardor, sincerity, fervency, seriousness, intentness, unction

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "earnestness":

   seriousness, sincerity

How to pronounce earnestness?

How to say earnestness in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use earnestness in a sentence?

1. Annie Dillard, _Pilgrim at Tinker Creek_:

   There is a certain age at which a child looks at you in all earnestness and delivers a long, pleased speech in all the true inflections of spoken English, but with not one recognizable syllable. There is no way you can tell the child that if language had been a melody, he had mastered it and done well, but that since it was in fact a sense, he had botched it utterly.

2. Oswald Chambers:

   Earnestness is not by any means everything; it is very often a subtle form of pious pride because it is obsessed with the method and not with the Master.

3. Confucius, The Confucian Analects:

   To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue...[They are] gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.

4. Louisa May Alcott:

   Young men often laugh at the sensible girls whom they secretly respect, and affect to admire the silly ones whom they secretly despise, because earnestness, intelligence, and womanly dignity are not the fashion.

5. Confucius:

   To be able under all circumstances to practice five things constitutes perfect virtue; these five things are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness and kindness.