GRAVE Synonyms: 298 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

grave 1 of 3

noun

ˈgrāv

Definition of grave next

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

as in death

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in dead

the state of being dead a terrible fear of the grave

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grave

2 of 3

adjective

ˈgrāv

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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as in dangerous

involving potential loss or injury going over Niagara Falls poses a grave danger

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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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as in deep

having a low musical pitch or range a grave hexachord

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grave

3 of 3

verb

ˈgrāv

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

Examples of grave 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

Noun

Are there graves underneath the jungle gym where those kids are climbing? —

Christina Ray Stanton, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Oct. 2024 One such act of vigilante violence about grave robbing — the 1849 Richard’s Riot — took place nearby in St. Charles, but it was not connected to Granger, Russell said. —

R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 24 Oct. 2024

Adjective

This detail and the prestige needed for such a prominent grave location within the church led archaeologists to believe the tombstone is Yeardley’s, as did a reference to a broken tomb with a crest made by his step-grandson in the 1680s. —

Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024 This is not the first time our species has confronted grave ethical questions of how to handle the power of our creations. —

Will Cady, SPIN, 30 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for grave

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grave

Noun

There are endless ruins to discover… the remains of villas, palaces, theaters, castles, churches, tombs, and more... The Paphos Mosaics are one of the finest examples of ancient mosaics in the Eastern Mediterranean and should absolutely be at the top of your must-see list.

Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
The fights are silly; the final scene in the tomb is bizarrely quick and awkward.

Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2024