gravitas

Noun

gravitas (uncountable)

1. Seriousness in bearing or manner; dignity.
   • “Because he refuses to level with the American people about the dangers which he has placed American troops and our diplomatic corps, personnel and civilians, as well as our partners and allies, or demonstrated even a modicum of presidential gravitas, I will attempt to do that,” said Mr. Biden, who...2020 January 7, Katie Glueck, Shane Goldmacher, “Joe Biden, Seeking Commander-in-Chief Moment, Denounces Trump’s Iran Escalation”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 19 Apr...
2. (figuratively) Substance, weight.
   • The other campaign against Ms. Yellen has been subtler, involving repeated suggestions — almost always off the record — that she lacks the “gravitas” to lead the Fed. What does that mean? […] Sorry, but it’s hard to escape the conclusion that gravitas, in this context, mainly means possessing a Y...2013 August 2, Paul Krugman, “Sex, Money and Gravitas”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 12 Nov 2020
   • Unlike most moons of the solar system, ours has the heft, the gravitational gravitas, to pull itself into a sphere.2014 September 7, Natalie Angier, “The Moon comes around again”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 31 Jul 2020