serious; solemn; sanctimonious
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesadjective
serious; solemn; in all seriousness
neutralDescribes someone who behaves with proper dignity and seriousness. Often used to describe one's demeanor or attitude.
He recounted his experiences in all seriousness.
The children all sat solemnly in the classroom listening to the teacher.
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Don't be fooled by his usual joking; he is dead serious when it comes to work.
adjective
to put on airs; sanctimonious; holier-than-thou
informalUsed sarcastically to describe someone pretending to be more serious, proper, or moral than they actually are, often to criticize hypocritical behavior.
Don't put on such airs in front of me; who doesn't know what you're really like?
He's usually so careless, but puts on a serious act as soon as the boss arrives.
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Stop talking such nonsense while pretending to be so serious; who would believe you?