earnestness

[ ur-nist-nis ]

noun

1. seriousness and zeal in intention, purpose, or effort:

   Socrates was a man of great moral earnestness, and exemplified in his own life some of the noblest virtues.

2. depth and sincerity of feeling:

   Speak with conviction and earnestness, and the people watching and listening will believe you.

Word History and Origins

Origin of earnestness¹

earnest ¹( def ) + -ness ( def )

Example Sentences

The film is a bewitching spectacle, a classic holiday season event movie that brims with enough earnestness to keep even its fluffiest moments from becoming corny intellectual property slop.

From Salon

The earnestness is almost as overwhelming as the ambiance.

From Los Angeles Times

Neither does “Happy’s Place,” even as it flirts with making the youthful earnestness of Escobedo's character into a joke.

From Salon

But Garfield, aided by his earnestness — and Britishness — more often comes across as a seeker, not a preacher.

From Los Angeles Times

“There was an earnestness behind the why, and then he listened. … That coach was already instilled in him starting to play out.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ardor
• devotion
• enthusiasm
• fervor
• firmness
• intensity
• sincerity
• solemnity
• tenacity
• urgency
• warmth
• zeal