SERIOUS Synonyms: 183 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'serious' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of serious are earnest , grave , sedate , sober , solemn , and staid . While all these words mean "not light or frivolous," serious implies a concern for what really matters. // a serious play about social injustice

Q: In what contexts can 'earnest' take the place of 'serious'?

Although the words earnest and serious have much in common, earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose. // an earnest reformer

Q: When would 'grave' be a good substitute for 'serious'?

While in some cases nearly identical to serious , grave implies both seriousness and dignity in expression or attitude. // read the proclamation in a grave voice

Q: When is it sensible to use 'sedate' instead of 'serious'?

While the synonyms sedate and serious are close in meaning, sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness. // remained sedate amid the commotion

Q: Where would 'sober' be a reasonable alternative to 'serious'?

The words sober and serious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity. // a sober look at the state of our schools

Q: When might 'solemn' be a better fit than 'serious'?

The synonyms solemn and serious are sometimes interchangeable, but solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity. // a sad and solemn occasion

Q: When is 'staid' a more appropriate choice than 'serious'?

In some situations, the words staid and serious are roughly equivalent. However, staid suggests a settled, accustomed sedateness and prim self-restraint. // a quiet and staid community

serious

adjective

ˈsir-ē-əs

Definition of serious

as in solemn

not joking or playful in mood or manner I'm serious when I say that no one should be walking in that neighborhood at night

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in important

having a matter of importance as its topic a very serious film that dealt with the aftermath of the Gulf War

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in dangerous

involving potential loss or injury a serious accident

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word serious different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of serious are earnest, grave, sedate, sober, solemn, and staid. While all these words mean "not light or frivolous," serious implies a concern for what really matters.

a serious play about social injustice

In what contexts can earnest take the place of serious?

Although the words earnest and serious have much in common, earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose.

an earnest reformer

When would grave be a good substitute for serious?

While in some cases nearly identical to serious, grave implies both seriousness and dignity in expression or attitude.

read the proclamation in a grave voice

When is it sensible to use sedate instead of serious?

While the synonyms sedate and serious are close in meaning, sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness.

remained sedate amid the commotion

Where would sober be a reasonable alternative to serious?

The words sober and serious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity.

a sober look at the state of our schools

When might solemn be a better fit than serious?

The synonyms solemn and serious are sometimes interchangeable, but solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity.

a sad and solemn occasion

When is staid a more appropriate choice than serious?

In some situations, the words staid and serious are roughly equivalent. However, staid suggests a settled, accustomed sedateness and prim self-restraint.

a quiet and staid community

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of serious That, along with the soldier’s account, raises serious questions about Israel’s rationale for the strikes. — Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 A lot of the other performances are overly serious and bogged down with exposition. — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 25 Aug. 2026 According to a spokesperson with the fire department, residents were pulled from the building, but no serious injuries have been reported at this time. — Briauna Brown, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 Escalating financial commitments distinguish serious projects from placeholders. — Mark Drapeau, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for serious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for serious

Adjective

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner made a solemn pledge to never stop trying.

— Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Both are powerful spots of natural beauty and deep cultural significance, but for a less solemn outing, the little islet of Ojima sits neatly between the two.

— Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of solemn

Adjective

That has changed quietly, with robots now performing important roles in operating rooms, hospital wards, rehabilitation centers, and corridors around the world.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Reseeding is particularly important in high-traffic areas or patches of the lawn where grubs, heat, or disease have left the turf thin.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of important

Adjective

The death toll from severe flooding along the Nepal-China border on Wednesday has climbed to 762 in Nepal, local police said, as rescue crews scour devastated neighborhoods for survivors.

— Bhadra Sharma, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
The bleeding was severe, her blood pressure plummeted, her breathing and heart function stopped.

— Michael Collins, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of severe

Adjective

Amid a national cinema that has become internationally recognized for perverse plotting and deadpan absurdism, writer-director Alexis Alexiou‘s third feature stands out for its stark storytelling and earnest emotional intensity.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 30 Aug. 2026
But there’s also a subtle rejection of the earnest wokeness of years past.

— Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of earnest

Browse Nearby Words

series

serious

seriously

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“Serious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/serious. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of serious

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