overearnest
adjective
(alsoover-earnest)uk/ˌəʊ.vərˈɜː.nɪst/us/ˌoʊ.vɚˈɝː.nɪst/tooseriousanddetermined,especiallysoseriousthat you areunabletofindyourownactionsfunny:
She's an over-earnestdirectorwho's made ahandfulofsecond-ratefilms.
Hisnovelscould sometimes be over-earnest.
- An over-earnestpresenterwasaskingherincreasinglydullquestions.
- I gotstucktalkingto an overearnestacademic.
- Sheplaysthe over-earnestdaughterof a Britishfamilyvisitingthe Dordogne.
- Criticsdescribehisplaysas over-earnest.
- The overearnestdancerdronedon about herpartnerfor solongthat Iwantedtofallasleep.
Lacking humour
- be no laughing matteridiom
- beyond
- beyond a jokeidiom
- earnestly
- earnestness
- intense
- joke
- lightly
- mirthlessly
- play it straightidiom
- po-faced
- poker-faced
- solemnity
- starchy
- turgid
- turgidity
- turgidly
- ultra-serious
- unamusing
- unfunny