grave 1 of 3

noun

ˈgrāv How to pronounce grave (audio)
Definition of gravenext
1
as in tomb
a final resting place for a dead person the forlorn boy put flowers on his mother's grave

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in death
the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities a rock star who found his early grave in a plane crash

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dead
the state of being dead a terrible fear of the grave

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grave

2 of 3

adjective

ˈgrāv How to pronounce grave (audio)
1
as in serious
having a matter of importance as its topic leaving gossip and celebrities to other magazines, this journal focuses on the grave issues confronting the nation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dangerous
involving potential loss or injury going over Niagara Falls poses a grave danger

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in solemn
not joking or playful in mood or manner when I asked him how his dog was doing, he looked grave and said, "Not good"

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in deep
having a low musical pitch or range a grave hexachord

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grave

3 of 3

verb

ˈgrāv How to pronounce grave (audio)
as in to etch
to cut (as letters or designs) on a hard surface the doomed climber graved his initials into the rock face

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word grave different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of grave are earnest, sedate, serious, sober, solemn, and staid. While all these words mean "not light or frivolous," grave implies both seriousness and dignity in expression or attitude.

read the proclamation in a grave voice

When can earnest be used instead of grave?

The synonyms earnest and grave are sometimes interchangeable, but earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose.

an earnest reformer

Where would sedate be a reasonable alternative to grave?

The words sedate and grave can be used in similar contexts, but sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness.

remained sedate amid the commotion

When would serious be a good substitute for grave?

While the synonyms serious and grave are close in meaning, serious implies a concern for what really matters.

a serious play about social injustice

In what contexts can sober take the place of grave?

Although the words sober and grave have much in common, sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity.

a sober look at the state of our schools

When is solemn a more appropriate choice than grave?

The words solemn and grave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity.

a sad and solemn occasion

When might staid be a better fit than grave?

In some situations, the words staid and grave are roughly equivalent. However, staid suggests a settled, accustomed sedateness and prim self-restraint.

a quiet and staid community

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 grave
Noun
Reports of war crimes, rapes, torture, and mass graves in places like Bucha, Irpyn, and other towns have shocked the world. —Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025 In Variety's new profile of the Hollywood Forever Cemetery — the legendary resting place for many industry titans in Los Angeles — co-owner Tyler Cassity revealed that Yelchin's parents, Irina and Viktor, visit the actor's grave nearly every day, nine years after his tragic death at 27. —Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 14 June 2025
Adjective
Based on the grave items discovered at the site, the people buried there could be members of the noble household and possibly even the main family, according to experts. —Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 19 June 2025 To this day, there’s a bird figurine placed at their grave site. —Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 19 June 2025
Verb
Better yet, the superstar—who recently graved our TV screens on The White Lotus—worked with stylist Brett Alan Nelson to deliver custom outfits for the set. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 19 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grave
  1. tomb
  2. death
  3. dead
  4. serious
  5. dangerous
  6. solemn
  7. deep
  8. etch
Noun
  • A lot of the postures in Kemetic yoga are based on postures from temples or tombs.
    — J.M. Banks, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2025
  • Several tombs of high-ranking Ancient Egyptian officials were recently uncovered by local archaeologists, shedding new light on a bygone civilization.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 5 June 2025
Definition of tomb
Noun
  • This was one of the theories about Wilkins’s death.
    — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 21 June 2025
  • When the news broke of his death on Jan. 10, 2016, fans across the globe grieved and paid tribute to the legend.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2025
Definition of death
Noun
  • As Joel talks to Ellie, a different solemn moment unfolds in Salt Lake City, where the young survivors of Joel’s Firefly massacre bury their dead and try to figure out what happened.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2025
  • However, because the Romans cremated their dead for many years, archaeologists have not found many gladiator bodies.
    — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Apr. 2025
Definition of dead
Adjective
  • Some 182 people with serious mental illness in the city jails are waiting for one of those beds, city correction officials said Thursday.
    — Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 29 June 2025
  • So far, the project has helped some counties reduce their administrative separation populations by up to 90% through limiting isolation to cases of recent violence and banning the use of restrictive housing for people with serious mental illness.
    — Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 June 2025
Definition of serious
Adjective
  • After landing, the most dangerous times, statistically speaking, are takeoff, approach, and initial climb.
    — Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 29 June 2025
  • And the Santa Barbara temblor revealed just how dangerous brick buildings built in that era could be.
    — Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
Definition of dangerous
Adjective
  • In the procedural drama, Rodríguez brings to life a multi-layered and solemn character shaped by a traumatic childhood — abused within the foster care system, with no knowledge of his origins, and struggling with severe dyslexia.
    — Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • This protection -- known as the seal of confession -- is among the oldest and most solemn obligations in the Catholic Church, grounded in the Church’s teaching that, in the sacrament, penitents are confidentially confessing to and receiving forgiveness from God.
    — Hiram Sasser, National Review, 15 June 2025
Definition of solemn
Adjective
  • What people have not always had is either the awareness or deep enough pockets, which means FIFA should reduce prices and fill these stadiums.
    — The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • Sometimes people forget that L.A. and Southern California is a place with real people and a super deep and rich history of Black art.
    — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 27 June 2025
Definition of deep
Verb
  • And a young singer-songwriter from Oakland, Calif. was etching the first outlines of her music career.
    — Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 24 June 2025
  • It's etched so clearly into their minds, and with an ever-growing slate of references across media, it's earned a long-term spot in the cultural zeitgeist.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 24 June 2025
Definition of etch

Browse Nearby Words

gratuity
grave
graved
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Cite this Entry

“Grave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grave. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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