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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
With Christmas soon approaching, Ebenezer's old friend Jacob Marley (Michael Hordern) returns from the grave to offer Scrooge a chance at redemption through the haunting of three spirits. —Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025 Still more include a Hells Angel member was buried in Colma grave with his motorcycle in the 1970s. —Chris Kenning, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
In heavy rain, refrain from parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a grave danger. —Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025 Ancient Origins continues that archaeologists expected to find human remains or grave goods, the absence of which communicated to researchers that the site was a cenotaph, a symbolic grave for someone who was laid to rest elsewhere. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
Las acciones de Google son especialmente insensibles y graves ante el cierre administrativo temporal del gobierno (shutdown), ignorando las peticiones de funcionarios gubernamentales y organizaciones hispanas que les solicitaron mantener la programación de Univision en el paquete principal. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025 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
  • An extensive list of notable tombs can be found at the Colma Historical Museum on Hillside Boulevard.
    — Ryan Macasero, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025
  • The tomb dates back to the 9th century BCE.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2025
Definition of tomb
Noun
  • Christopher Scholtes, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and one count of intentional child abuse likely to cause death or serious physical injury in the July 9, 2024 death of his 2-year-old daughter, according to the Pima County Attorney's Office.
    — Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Of course, deportation or removal from the United States isn’t the same as death; Rubio’s unilateral visa revocation isn’t the same as the proscription.
    — JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 23 Oct. 2025
Definition of death
Noun
  • And yet Maram wanted to be there—to stand with her family members in those first fragile moments of quiet, to celebrate our survival and mourn our dead.
    — Mosab Abu Toha, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Four people were arrested in Conway on Tuesday in relation to a Saturday shooting that left a 17-year-old dead, a news release from Conway police says.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025
Definition of dead
Adjective
  • Rule out any more serious conditions.
    — RikkiLynn Shields Hannigan, Health, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Springsteen has been open over the years about navigating depression, which began to get serious during his early 30s.
    — Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Definition of serious
Adjective
  • Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli is charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft, according to a news release from the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
    — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
  • This connection would become increasingly important over the twentieth century, as the rapid development of technological infrastructure created ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous sensitivities to geomagnetic storms.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Definition of dangerous
Adjective
  • The monarch herself eventually selected the winner, an elegant and solemn portrait that was entitled Equanimity and eventually featured on the cover of Time magazine.
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Each day brings more permanent residents, arriving in black hearses trailing solemn convoys of hazard-flashing cars to a place still served by generations of locals who cut granite memorials or pour sympathetic whiskeys.
    — Chris Kenning, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
Definition of solemn
Adjective
  • Jerami Grant came off the bench for 29 points, hitting 4-of-7 from deep, while Deni Avdija added 20 points and Shaedon Sharpe tossed in 15.
    — Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez deliberately aimed deep passes to both wings.
    — The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Definition of deep
Verb
  • After dropping 43 points against Golden State on Tuesday, Doncic somehow topped it, finishing with 49 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists and etching his name in the history books for several reasons.
    — Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
  • While fans may no longer watch those familiar white discs spiral across the field, the memories remain—etched in photos, in inside jokes, and in the hearts of those who once stood shoulder to shoulder, laughing as flour dust filled the West Texas air.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
Definition of etch

Browse Nearby Words

gratuity
grave
graved
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grave. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on grave

Nglish: Translation of grave for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

8 Real (and Perceived) Redundant Words

17 Words for Dog Breeds

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

8 Real (and Perceived) Redundant Words

17 Words for Dog Breeds
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All