Synonyms for earnest
ˈɜr nɪstearnest

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:4.0 / 1 vote

1. earnest

   One is eager who impatiently desires to accomplish some end; one is earnest with a desire that is less impatient, but more deep, resolute, and constant; one is anxious with a desire that foresees rather the pain of disappointment than the delight of attainment. One is eager for the gratification of any appetite or passion; he is earnest in conviction, purpose, or character. Eager usually refers to some specific and immediate satisfaction, earnest to something permanent and enduring; the patriotic soldier is earnest in his devotion to his country, eager for a decisive battle.

   Synonyms:
   animated, anxious, ardent, burning, desirous, eager, enthusiastic, fervent, glowing, hot, impatient, impetuous, importunate, intense, intent, keen, longing, vehement, yearning, zealous

   Antonyms:
   apathetic, calm, careless, cold, cool, dispassionate, frigid, heedless, indifferent, negligent, phlegmatic, purposeless, regardless, stolid, stony, stupid, unconcerned, uninterested, unmindful, unmoved

   Preposition:
   Eager for (more rarely after) favor, honor, etc.; eager in pursuit.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. earnest

   Synonyms:
   eager, serious, intent, determined, strenuous, solemn, grave, warm, fervent, intense, ardent

   Antonyms:
   indifferent, idle, playful, desultory, irresolute, unearnest, sportive, jesting, flippant

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. earnestadjective

   something of value given by one person to another to bind a contract

   Antonyms:
   frivolous, purposeless, insincere

2. earnest, sincere, solemnadjective

   characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions

   "both sides were deeply in earnest, even passionate"; "an entirely sincere and cruel tyrant"; "a film with a solemn social message"

   Synonyms:
   dear, heartfelt, businesslike, sincere, grave, sedate, sober, devout, solemn

   Antonyms:
   frivolous, insincere, purposeless

3. dear, devout, earnest, heartfeltadjective

   earnest

   "one's dearest wish"; "devout wishes for their success"; "heartfelt condolences"

   Synonyms:
   dear(p), pricy, pricey, devout, heartfelt, high-priced, beloved, businesslike, god-fearing, good, darling, costly, solemn, near, sincere, dear

   Antonyms:
   insincere, purposeless, frivolous

4. businesslike, earnestadjective

   not distracted by anything unrelated to the goal

   Synonyms:
   sincere, businesslike, devout, solemn, heartfelt, dear

   Antonyms:
   insincere, frivolous, purposeless

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. earnestadjective

   Synonyms:
   ardent, zealous, eager, fervent, fervid, glowing, animated, importunate, warm, hearty

2. earnestadjective

   Synonyms:
   intent, steady, fixed, close

3. earnestnoun

   Synonyms:
   seriousness, reality, not a jest

4. earnestnoun

   Synonyms:
   pledge, first-fruits

5. earnestnoun

   Synonyms:
   EARNEST-MONEY

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

1. earnestadjective

   Synonyms:
   unfeigned, ardent, sincere, fervent, impassioned, zealous, intent

2. earnestnoun

   Synonyms:
   sincerity, seriousness, good faith, pledge, handsel, token, foretaste

   Antonyms:
   jest

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

1. List of paraphrases for "earnest":

   sincere, serious, conscientiously, fervent, seriousness, earnestly, ardent, seriously

How to pronounce earnest?

How to say earnest in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use earnest in a sentence?

1. Zhai Qing:

   (Environmental inspectors) must confront the hard tasks in earnest and not be afraid of offending people... and never let violators off the hook without resolving the problem.

2. Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek:

   The EU is currently doing the impact analysis, and we are doing the impact analysis, and we're hoping that at the latest some time in the beginning of 2017 negotiations could start in earnest.

3. Ram Madhav:

   There is an earnest eagerness to connect with the Indian leadership, prime Minister Modi has chosen to come in his first year (of office) to China. It shows that the leaders on both sides are seriously attempting to ... bridge the most important challenge between the two countries - the trust deficit.

4. Mike Rogers:

   White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters Friday at the daily press briefing. Mike Rogers, former chairman of the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, weighed in late Friday afternoon. We should not underestimate what this means to our national security, a leading general in Iran just told the world that the United States of America is irrelevant and Russia welcomed him with open arms. Not only do Russia and Iran not fear us, they do not respect us. And that, is dangerous. According to two separate Western intelligence sources, Qassem Soleimani arrived in Moscow on Iran Air flight 5130 from Tehran on July 24, ten days after the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers was announced that included a provision to lift the arms embargo on Iran. Three days later, Secretary of State John Kerry testified about the Iran nuclear deal before the Senate Armed Services Committee, assuring Congress pressure would remain on Iran's shadowy general.

5. Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz:

   [Earnest] suggested that you should be invited to appear at the hearing as well, because you have some 'interesting insight' into the JCPOA [the Iran deal]. Therefore your appearance before the Committee would be contingent on Mr. Rhodes’ appearance at that hearing.