Earnest and Unctuous

Opposite meaning words

Earnest adjective - Not joking or playful in mood or manner.

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Unctuous is an antonym for earnest.

Nearby Words: earnestness, earnestly

Unctuous adjective - Overly or insincerely flattering.

Usage example: an unctuous appraisal of the musical talent shown by the boss's daughter

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Earnest is an antonym for unctuous.

Nearby Word: unctuously

Cite this Source

Unctuous and Earnest. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 13, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/earnest/unctuous

Earnest & Unctuous. N.p., 2016. Web. 13 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/earnest/unctuous>.

Unctuous or Earnest. 2016. Accessed August 13, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/earnest/unctuous.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "earnest" and "unctuous" have occurred on timeline