What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Emotional vs Earnest - What's the difference?

emotional | earnest | Related terms |

Emotional is a related term of earnest.


As an adjective emotional

is of or relating to the emotions.

As a proper noun earnest is

, an occasional spelling variant of ernest.

emotional

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Of or relating to the emotions.
  • emotional crisis
  • Characterised by emotion.
  • Determined by emotion rather than reason.
  • emotional decision
  • Appealing to or arousing emotion.
  • emotional speech
  • Easily affected by emotion.
  • She’s an emotional person.
  • Readily displaying emotion.
  • emotional greeting

    Synonyms

    * demonstrative * effusive * sentimental * temperamental

    Derived terms

    * emotional cripple * emotionalise (also emotionalize) * emotionalism * emotionally * * *

    earnest

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) ernest, eornest, from (etyl) eornest, eornost, .

    Noun

    (-)
  • Gravity; serious purpose; earnestness.
  • * Sir Philip Sidney
  • Take heed that this jest do not one day turn to earnest .
  • * Shakespeare
  • given in earnest what I begged in jest
  • Seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to jesting or feigned appearance); fixed determination; eagerness; intentness.
  • Derived terms
    * earnestful * in earnest

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To be serious with; use in earnest.
  • * 1602 , Pastor Fido:
  • Let's prove among ourselves our armes in jest, That when we come to earnest them with men, We may them better use.

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) eornest, from (etyl) .

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Serious in speech or action; eager; urgent; importunate; pressing; instant.
  • Ardent in the pursuit of an object; eager to obtain or do; zealous with sincerity; with hearty endeavour; heartfelt; fervent; hearty; — used in a good sense; as, earnest prayers .
  • Intent; fixed closely; as, earnest attention .
  • Possessing or characterised by seriousness; strongly bent; intent.
  • an earnest disposition
  • Strenuous; diligent.
  • earnest efforts
  • Serious; weighty; of a serious, weighty, or important nature; not trifling or feigned; important.
  • Derived terms
    * (l) * (l)

    Etymology 3

    Of uncertain origin; apparently related to (erres). Compare also (l).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A sum of money paid in advance as a deposit; hence, a pledge, a guarantee, an indication of something to come.
  • * 1990 , (Peter Hopkirk), The Great Game , Folio Society 2010, p. 365:
  • But if all this was viewed by Gladstone and the Cabinet as an earnest of St Petersburg's future good intentions in Central Asia, then disillusionment was soon to follow.

    See also

    * Earnest * earnest money

    Anagrams

    * * * *