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

He characterized the backlash against his song as an aversion to earnestness, one that no doubt existed at the time his single was climbing the charts.

From Salon

His earnestness is comic and sweet and dangerous.

From Los Angeles Times

But it’s clear that there’s a hunger for earnestness amid the irreverence.

From Salon

And then there’s knowing when to let some of the earnestness go and care a little less — not because of cynicism, but because you actually want to push forward, and that requires working with others.

From Salon

“Overcompensating” deftly balances its innate absurdity with a whole lot of earnestness, creating a silly, strangely gripping rhythm that makes the show uniquely watchable.

From Salon

Related Words

• ardor 
• devotion 
• enthusiasm 
• fervor 
• firmness www.thesaurus.com
• intensity 
• sincerity 
• solemnity 
• tenacity 
• urgency 
• warmth 
• zeal