Converse of object

• give: The protector about this time gave a commendable earnest of his resolution to assert rigorous justice against offenders.

Adjective modifier

• deadly: She turned to look at me her face had an expression of deadly earnest.

• dead: He was running in dead earnest now, faster than he had ever run in his life.

• real: I cannot get him to write or speak in real, solid earnest.

• good: I made up my mind to go to Russia, and began my preparations in good earnest.

• right: His sons, William and George, set themselves in right earnest to bring back the prosperity of the old firm.

• more: Do lavish attention on the person, as the more earnest the attention given the more likely you will end up together.

Modifies a noun

• entreaty: Wherefore, having laid down his life for the Lord, he maketh earnest entreaty in behalf of our souls.

• endeavor: There was no mistaking his astonishing sincerity, his painfully earnest endeavor to impart to her some rather unusual id.. .

• heed: The poor people came quickly together and gave earnest heed to what I said, despite the wind and snow.

• prayer: Real prayer, earnest prayer, is hard work.

• desire: Is there a sense of mutual respect and an earnest desire on both sides to do the work?

• endeavor: A recent case underlines the importance of earnest endeavor to avoid litigation click here for the full article.

Modifying Another Word

• painfully: There was no mistaking his astonishing sincerity, his painfully earnest endeavor to impart to her some rather unusual id.. .

• too: In that case, I can only counsel " the importance of not being too earnest " !

• very: They are closely followed by a couple of very fit, very earnest young men.

• so: Is Franklin the only man who is lost, that his wife should be so earnest to find him?

• overly: Then again, I might have just missed the point about some ironic joke thanks to an overly earnest press release.

Used with adjective complement

• become: His preaching became earnest, didactic, experimental, and pastoral.

Preposition: of

• spirit: Doesn't Ephesians 1 say we have the earnest of the Spirit?