GRAVITAS Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

gravitas

noun

Definition of gravitas

as in gravity

formal a very serious quality or manner The new leader has an air of gravitas that commands respect. a comic actress who lacks the gravitas for dramatic roles

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of gravitas Henriksen plays his part to the hilt here, bringing a gravitas that few actors would consider bringing to the role of a shoot-'em-up movie villain. — Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 11 Jan. 2023 The 66-year-old Showalter brought a sense of stability and gravitas to a franchise that had been saddled with on- and off-the-field issues over the past several seasons. — David Brandt, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Nov. 2022 As Agathe comes to understand the extent of her troubles, Exarchopoulos’ performance achieves a sorrowful gravitas. — Jon Frosch, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Jan. 2023 Singer-songwriter-keyboardist McVie took an important role in its multi-platinum efforts, with her warmth and gravitas balancing the contributions of her younger new bandmates. — Chris Morris, Variety, 30 Nov. 2022 See All Example Sentences for gravitas

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gravitas

Noun

As soon as the bubble moves, the machine is subject to gravity and flow.

— Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
When two stars align almost perfectly from Earth’s perspective, the gravity of the nearer one bends and magnifies the light from the more distant star, acting like a cosmic magnifying glass.

— Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 6 July 2026

Definition of gravity

Noun

As these events unfold, Early’s earnestness blurs comedy and drama, to surprisingly heartfelt effect.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2026
Western, for his part, had by this time recovered something of his usual bluster, and began again upon the subject of Blifil, commending his estate and his family with great earnestness, as though these considerations alone ought to have settled the matter long since.

— Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 2 June 2026

Definition of earnestness

Noun

Critical infrastructure must assume persistent aerial observation as a baseline condition of operations, and operators must rehearse drone incidents with the same seriousness as cyberattacks or active shooter scenarios.

— Bill Edwards, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Far from being disengaged from the city’s fiscal challenges, residents demonstrated a clear understanding of the seriousness of this issue to the future of Chicago.

— Karen Freeman-Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026

Definition of seriousness

Noun

But as far as their defensive commitment goes, and their sheer determination to see the game plan through, Paraguay deserve at least a little credit for almost shutting an incredible team down.

— Stuart James, New York Times, 5 July 2026
For 250 years, Americans have overcome every challenge with grit, resilience, and determination.

— Ted Johnson, Deadline, 4 July 2026

Definition of determination

Noun

By May 2026, all 11 of xAI’s original cofounders had departed the company, a cascade that began in earnest in February when Tony Wu, described as one of the most operationally central cofounders, announced his resignation.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 June 2026
Modern viticulture began in earnest here in the 1970s before blossoming in the ’90s.

— Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 June 2026

Definition of earnest

Noun

Gore is best known for Make America Great Again, her 2016 naked portrait of Trump with the paunch and solemnity of the great men of art history, adding, crucially, the tiniest of compensatory micropenises.

— Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026
As his own self-celebration has fizzled, a void has opened between the scheduled roster of events and the true purpose and meaning of the solemnity of July 4, 2026.

— David Frum, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026

Definition of solemnity

Noun

That attentiveness showed up in small ways throughout our stay.

— Alisha Prakash, Travel + Leisure, 27 June 2026
In the past 15 years, and especially in the last five, our city has seen an influx of pizza restaurants and chefs who’ve brought a diversity of styles and an attentiveness to elevated ingredients and approaches.

— Peter St. Onge Updated June 24, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2026

Definition of attentiveness

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graving

gravitas

gravitate

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“Gravitas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gravitas. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of gravitas

noun

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