It's not serious, I don't bear him a grudge.
Source: tatoeba (2432)
Serious
/ˈsɪə̯.ɹi.əs/
Synonyms for "serious" (291 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (59)
Adjective(9 words)
gravesevereacademic communitiesacute symptomadverse weather impactaggravatingdangerousdangerous tamperingdark style
Noun(1 words)
Strong matches (87)
devoteddevoutdifficultdignifieddourearnestelevatedexcogitatingexhaustiveexplosivefaithfulfatalfatefulfellferventfervidfieryflamingformalformidable
Show 44 more words
fraught with dangerfrowningfullgenuinegrandgravegreatgrievousgrimgrim-facedgrim-visagedhardheartfeltheartyheatedheavyhighhonesthothot bloodedhot-bloodedhumorlessideativeimpassionedimportantimposingin earnestinspiringintenseintentintent onintrospectiveirresistiblejeopardouslaboriouslife-and-deathlife-or-deathloftylong facedlong-facedloyalmainmajesticmajor
Adjective(15 words)
direearnestearnest praisegerman gravitätgoodgrave demeanorgravestgravity-basedgrievousgrownup songimportantintellectual climateintense pursuitlife-threateningliteral usage
Adjective(5 words)
Verb(1 words)
Related words (145)
Adjective(22 words)
materialmaximummeaningfulmeditatingmeditativemenacingmentalmightymoderatemomentousmovingmusefulmusingnastyno jokeno laughing matterno-nonsensenoblenoeticobstinate
Show 83 more words
on fireoperoseparlouspassionatepensiveperfervidpericulousperilousperseveringpersistentplenarypoker-facedponderingportentouspowerfulprecariousprehensivepressingpurposefulred hotred-hotreflectingreflectiverelentlessresoluteresolvedruminantruminatingruminativesedateself-containedserious-mindedseveresignificantsinceresingle mindedsingle-mindedsobersober-mindedsobersidedsolemnsombersorespeculativespiritedstaidstatelysteadysternstone facedstone-facedstraightstraight facedstraight-facedstraightforwardstrenuousstrongsubduedsublimetemperatetenaciousterriblethinkingthoughtthoughtfulthreateningtotaltoughuglyunamusingunfunnyunsmilingurgentvehementviolentvitalwarmweightywhite hotwhite-hotwholeheartedwistfulzealous
Noun(5 words)
profound sadnesssevere skeletal deformitysolemn pledgesolemn promisesolemn tone
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: grave, severe, abandoned, academic communities, acute.
- earnest: 'Earnest' is seriousness rooted in sincerity, an earnest attempt might fail, but no one doubts the genuine effort behind it.
- Sentence evidence is available for serious, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "serious".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "serious"
Keep "serious" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "serious" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "serious", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "serious" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
How these synonyms differ
- earnest - 'Earnest' is seriousness rooted in sincerity, an earnest attempt might fail, but no one doubts the genuine effort behind it.
- grave - 'Grave' elevates seriousness to solemnity, a grave situation involves real peril or deep consequence. The word itself sounds heavy.
- solemn - 'Solemn' is seriousness made visible, a solemn expression, a solemn ceremony. It carries ritual weight and demands respectful silence.
- somber - 'Somber' blends seriousness with subdued emotion, a somber mood at a funeral, a somber assessment of the situation. There's sadness underneath.
- stern - 'Stern' is seriousness directed at others, a stern teacher, a stern warning. It implies disapproval and an expectation of compliance.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
6 entriesMore specific
8 entriescritical matterearnest expressiongrave issuemajor problemserious damageserious illnessserious injurysolemn tone
Collocations
6 entriesserious consequenceserious illnessserious issueserious matterserious problemserious risk
Inflections
2 entriesmore seriousmost serious
Derivations
2 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
18 entriesShowing 16 of 18 words.
Sample sentences
16 total sentences available.
You are not excused from the responsibility for this serious situation.
Source: tatoeba (16685)
Let's have a serious talk about your future.
Source: tatoeba (17052)
I felt ill and was admitted to the hospital, but in the event, it was nothing serious.
Source: tatoeba (20292)
Showing 4 of 16 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "serious"?
Closest matches include grave, severe, abandoned, academic communities, acute.
How is "earnest" different from "serious"?
'Earnest' is seriousness rooted in sincerity, an earnest attempt might fail, but no one doubts the genuine effort behind it.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "serious"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.