1
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
2
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
3
as in dangerous
involving potential loss or injury
a serious accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
a serious injury
serious questions
a serious concern
a substantial concern
a significant concern
a considerable concern
a major concern
an important concern
serious doubts
a serious effort
Examples of serious in a Sentence
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web
There are also specific and serious dangers for pregnant women; listeria infection can result in miscarriage, stillbirth and preterm labor.
—
Katia Hetter, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024
Questions clearly exist about the degree to which the NFL can reduce the serious risks associated with the game without fundamentally changing the sport and its commercial appeal.
—Chris Deubert, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
According to the park's website, there's also a reservable picnic structure for those who want to get serious about their outdoor dining.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2024
Lately, it’s been serious about adding to its stockpile.
—Frank Holmes, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for serious 
Katia Hetter, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024
Questions clearly exist about the degree to which the NFL can reduce the serious risks associated with the game without fundamentally changing the sport and its commercial appeal.
—Chris Deubert, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
According to the park's website, there's also a reservable picnic structure for those who want to get serious about their outdoor dining.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2024
Lately, it’s been serious about adding to its stockpile.
—Frank Holmes, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for serious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for serious
Adjective
-
Murder for hire: Inside Iran’s proxy war with Israel in the West Israel holds memorials for anniversary of Oct. 7 attack Israelis gathered for solemn memorials of the anniversary of the October attack on Monday.Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 8 Oct. 2024
-
But amid the festive vibes, there was a solemn moment.Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 5 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
And these are the moments where I’m connected with my loneliness, which is important.Nora Taylor, Robb Report, 2 Nov. 2024
-
The problem is, WWE is just four weeks away from one of its most important shows, Survivor Series, which is likely to serve as the stage for not one but two massive world title matches.Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Sherpas are more often than not the backbone of international mountaineering expeditions, hauling heavy gear and supplies up mountains and guiding people to high-altitude summits in dangerous conditions.Helen Regan, CNN, 26 Oct. 2024
-
This Western-horror hybrid follows a group of men who set out on a dangerous rescue mission after a local woman, Samantha O'Dwyer (Lili Simmons), is kidnapped by a group of cave-dwelling, cannibalistic Troglodytes.Travis Bean, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
These and other foodborne illnesses can cause nausea or vomiting, or even more severe complications.Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024
-
Several teams of aid and rescue workers have also been deployed to the state, which is prone to severe cyclones and storms.Robert Shackelford, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
The menu plays a big role in that, with options to get a wild boar chorizo slider or one with roasted buffalo tongue.Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 2 Nov. 2024
-
In previous years, these were the biggest challenges our boxwoods faced.Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Who knew this fun at-home manicure trend could be so hazardous?Melissa Willets, Parents, 30 Oct. 2024
-
The training scenarios in the VR world are used to train on situations that are too hazardous and difficult to train on in the real world.John Clemons, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
In the height of the singer-songwriter era, when earnest autobiographical confessions were prized as tokens of authenticity, Newman’s use of sarcasm and unlikable protagonists was an act of literary radicalism in pop music.David Hajdu, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2024
-
The sociopolitical implications of his story—desperate poverty, harassment by the police, along with exploitation by the boxing business and its high-handed authorities—are balanced by his earnest self-analyses and the detailing of his home life.Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
Most of the national focus and major fundraising have flowed to the governor’s race.Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 30 Oct. 2024
-
Over the last ten years Chile has gone from a minor player in the global wine industry to become the fourth largest exporter: 230 million gallons going to 131 countries, with China its major importer.John Mariani, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near serious
Cite this Entry
“Serious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/serious. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share