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earnest

/ˈɜːrnəst/  ·  say it: ER·nust

sincere and serious in intention

In Personality & Character

In more detail

1. (adjective) showing sincere and intense feeling or effort; not joking or pretending

2. (noun) money given as a sign of good faith or commitment to a deal

Examples

• 1. She made an earnest attempt to learn the language before moving to the country.
• 2. The buyer paid an earnest deposit to show they were serious about purchasing the house.

Nearby in Personality & Character

demure, diligent, diplomatic, egotistical, empathetic, fickle