completely earnest

USAGE SUMMARY

"completely earnest" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe someone who is entirely sincere or serious in their intentions or feelings. For example: "She was completely earnest in her desire to help the community." Alternative expressions include "totally sincere" and "utterly serious."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Guardian Alien is a wild Brooklyn art band, but this is music that eventually becomes completely earnest: it doesn't blink nor translate as aggression.

The New York Times - Arts

It is completely earnest.

Huffington Post

The 1997 autofiction novel the show's based on has grown into a unquenchable, feverish, completely earnest phenomenon.

Vice

I always say, and I'm always completely earnest when I say this, that every album that I put out is the best thing that I've ever done.

Huffington Post

He appears genuinely moved by it, and seems to be making a completely earnest reference to Britain's Got Talent when he says, "Piers Morgan knows what a good voice is she would have got through to the final easy".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

A successful con man must be, at some level, completely in earnest.

The New York Times - Magazine

This is the first Hockney show I have seen that appeared completely in earnest.

The Guardian - Arts

Largely forsaking the sweet multiculturalism of the original for white-dude bromance, and completely abandoning earnest teenagers-in-crisis melodrama in favor of crude, aggressive comedy, this "21 Jump Street" is an example of how formula-driven entertainment can succeed.

The New York Times

Mr. Galifianakis's Gleasonesque movements and deadpan, behind-the-beat timing serve him well in this role, as does his ability to seem completely in earnest even when his actions and utterances are bizarre or nonsensical.

The New York Times

Shenmue is very like prog-rock in the way that it's so very uncool, yet completely sincere and earnest.

Vice

They are religious situations - but for all their earnest dignity they are not in the style of the church, but completely in the style of the opera.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with descriptions of art, performances or personal declarations where authenticity is a key point of discussion.

Common error

Avoid using "completely earnest" when you are describing the action itself rather than the person's state. For example, use "spoke completely earnestly" instead of "spoke completely earnest" to ensure the adverbial form correctly modifies the verb.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely earnest" consists of the adverb "completely" modifying the adjective "earnest". In a sentence, it typically functions as a predicative adjective (e.g., "He was "completely earnest"") or an attributive modifier. According to Ludwig AI, it is a standard and correct construction for emphasizing the degree of sincerity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "completely earnest" is a robust and grammatically correct phrase used to denote total sincerity. As shown by Ludwig AI examples, it is a favorite of professional critics and journalists who need to describe a subject's lack of pretense. Whether used in a literary review or a character study, the phrase serves as a strong counterpoint to irony. While its frequency is technically classified as Rare based on exact matches, its high visibility in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The New Yorker proves its value in sophisticated English writing. For writers seeking variety, alternatives like "utterly sincere" or "entirely genuine" can provide similar semantic weight.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly sincere

Uses a slightly more formal intensive adverb to emphasize the quality of being honest

entirely genuine

Shifts focus from the person's intent to the authenticity of their nature

wholly heartfelt

Adds an emotional or deeply personal connotation to the sincerity

deadly earnest

A common idiom that implies a more intense, almost grave level of seriousness

perfectly honest

Often used as a conversational filler or to emphasize the truth of a statement

completely serious

A more common, less literary alternative to the word earnest

totally unaffected

Describes sincerity specifically through the absence of pretense or artificiality

absolutely frank

Focuses on the directness and openness of the communication

truly sincere

A simpler way to express deep conviction without high-register adverbs

deeply committed

Focuses on the dedication to a cause rather than just the manner of expression

FAQs

How to use "completely earnest" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a person or their creative output, such as: "The director was "completely earnest" in his attempt to tell a simple story without any hidden cynicism."

What can I say instead of "completely earnest"?

Depending on your context, you can use "totally sincere", "entirely genuine", or "utterly sincere".

What is the difference between "completely earnest" and "deadly earnest"?

While both emphasize sincerity, "deadly earnest" usually implies a higher level of gravity or life-and-death importance, whereas "completely earnest" focuses purely on the lack of irony.

Is "completely earnest" a formal phrase?

It is a neutral to formal phrase. It is frequently found in high-quality journalism, literary reviews and formal character descriptions, making it appropriate for professional writing.