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.

Profound vs Serious - What's the difference?

profound | serious |

As adjectives the difference between profound and serious

is that profound is descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to great depth; deep while serious is without humor or expression of happiness; grave in manner or disposition; earnest; thoughtful; solemn.

As a noun profound

is the deep; the sea; the ocean.

As a verb profound

is to cause to sink deeply; to cause to dive or penetrate far down.

profound

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to great depth; deep.
  • * (rfdate),
    • A gulf profound
  • Very deep; very serious
  • Intellectually deep; entering far into subjects; reaching to the bottom of a matter, or of a branch of learning; thorough; as, a profound investigation or treatise; a profound scholar; profound wisdom.
  • *
  • Characterized by intensity; deeply felt; pervading; overmastering; far-reaching; strongly impressed; as, a profound sleep.
  • * (rfdate),
    • Profound sciatica
  • * (rfdate),
    • Of the profound corruption of this class there can be no doubt.
  • Bending low, exhibiting or expressing deep humility; lowly; submissive; as, a profound bow.
  • * (rfdate)
    • What humble gestures! What profound reverence!

    Noun

    (-)
  • (obsolete) The deep; the sea; the ocean.
    • God in the fathomless profound / Hath all this choice commanders drowned. Sandys .
  • (obsolete) An abyss.
    • (Milton)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To cause to sink deeply; to cause to dive or penetrate far down.
    • (Sir Thomas Browne)
  • (obsolete) To dive deeply; to penetrate.

    • Related terms

    * profundity * profoundness ----

    serious

    English

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Without humor or expression of happiness; grave in manner or disposition; earnest; thoughtful; solemn.
    • It was a surprise to see the captain, who had always seemed so serious , laugh so heartily.
  • Important; weighty; not trifling; leaving no room for play; needing great attention; critical.
    • This is a serious problem. We'll need our best experts.
  • Really intending what is said; being in earnest; not jesting or deceiving; meaningful.
    • After all these years, we're finally getting serious attention.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Antonyms

    * trifling, unimportant * (intending what is said) jesting

    Derived terms

    * srs (abbreviation) * dead serious * seriously * seriousness * serious-minded * serious-mindedly * serious-mindedness

    External links

    * *

    Statistics

    *