self-serious
Lacking playful irony
Self-serious describes someone who takes themselves too seriously, lacking humor or lightness about their own importance.
The term is mildly critical, suggesting pomposity or an inflated sense of gravity: The film was so self-serious it forgot to be fun.
A self-serious artist treats every project as momentous; a self-serious politician can't laugh at their own gaffes.
Anxiously rigid in manner
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- stiffNot easily bent
- formalFollowing strict protocol
buttoned-up · strait-laced · prim · proper · priggish · puritanical · stuffy · starched
Sternly gloomy
- unsmilingNot showing amusement
- sternStrict or ship's aft
- soberFree from intoxication
- austereSeverely simple and unadorned
grim · staid · deadpan · impassive · poker-faced · unamused · joyless · somber
Affectedly grand in manner
- affectedArtificially contrived behavior
- grandiosePretentiously impressive in scale
- snobbishCondescending toward perceived inferiors
- haughtyDisdainfully proud
conceited · supercilious · arrogant · smug · highfalutin · pedantic · bombastic · pontifical
Sincerely intense in purpose
- passionateIntensely emotional or enthusiastic
- ferventIntensely and sincerely felt
- ardentIntensely enthusiastic or devoted
- drivenIntensely determined to achieve
zealous · committed · dedicated · focused · single-minded · purposeful · determined · resolute
uptight
Anxiously rigid in manner
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- stiffNot easily bent
formal · buttoned-up · strait-laced · prim · proper · priggish · puritanical · stuffy · starched · conservative
dour
Sternly gloomy
austere · grim · staid · deadpan · impassive · poker-faced · unamused · joyless · somber · straight-faced
pompous
Affectedly grand in manner
- affectedArtificially contrived behavior
- grandiosePretentiously impressive in scale
- snobbishCondescending toward perceived inferiors
haughty · conceited · supercilious · arrogant · smug · highfalutin · pedantic · bombastic · pontifical · lofty
earnest
Sincerely intense in purpose
- passionateIntensely emotional or enthusiastic
- ferventIntensely and sincerely felt
- ardentIntensely enthusiastic or devoted
driven · zealous · committed · dedicated · focused · single-minded · purposeful · determined · resolute · unwavering
self-seriousself-deprecating
Belittling one's own abilities
self-effacing · unpretentious · humble · down-to-earth · modest
self-seriouslighthearted
Cheerful and without worry
playful · whimsical · irreverent · tongue-in-cheek · light-hearted
self-seriousself-deprecating
Belittling one's own abilities
lighthearted · self-effacing · easygoing · carefree · laid-back
self, serious, selves, selfhood, selfless, selflessness, selfish, selfishness, seriously