adjective
- excessively serious, sincere, or intense in manner or approach
Usage: often implies a lack of appropriate lightness or humor
Examples
- His overearnest approach to the game made it less fun for everyone.
- The overearnest student took every joke as a personal attack.
- She worried that her overearnest presentation would bore the audience.
- The director’s overearnest interpretation of the comedy fell flat.
- His overearnest demeanor made casual conversation difficult.
- The overearnest activist alienated potential supporters with his intensity.