variants
or sombre
1
: so shaded as to be dark and gloomy
2
b
: of a dismal or depressing character : melancholy
c
: conveying gloomy suggestions or ideas
3
: of a dull or heavy cast or shade : dark colored
somberly
adverb
somberness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of somber in a Sentence
Looking out at his audience, a somber mass of monks, Gregory gave Mary a new identity that would shape her image for fourteen hundred years.
—
Jonathan Darman, Newsweek, 29 May 2006
This year marks a somber anniversary—it was 150 years ago that humans wiped out the last survivors of this species. A relative of the razorbills and puffins, and about the size of a small goose, the great auk was black-bodied with a white underbelly, and walked erect, like a penguin.
—Bill Montevecchi, Natural History, August 1994
The purple darkness was filled with men who lectured and jabbered. Sometimes he could see them gesticulating against the blue and somber sky.
—Stephen Crane, The Red Badge of Courage, 1895
Her death put us in a somber mood.
The movie is a somber portrait of life on the streets.
He wore a somber suit.
Jonathan Darman, Newsweek, 29 May 2006
This year marks a somber anniversary—it was 150 years ago that humans wiped out the last survivors of this species. A relative of the razorbills and puffins, and about the size of a small goose, the great auk was black-bodied with a white underbelly, and walked erect, like a penguin.
—Bill Montevecchi, Natural History, August 1994
The purple darkness was filled with men who lectured and jabbered. Sometimes he could see them gesticulating against the blue and somber sky.
—Stephen Crane, The Red Badge of Courage, 1895
Her death put us in a somber mood.
The movie is a somber portrait of life on the streets.
He wore a somber suit.
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite being known as a city that puts smiles on faces and provides a good time to all, the mood in New Orleans has been much more somber the past few days.
—William Guillory, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
While Syrians in the capital looked forward to a new beginning after Assad’s ouster, the mood was more somber along Beirut’s Mediterranean promenade, where residents shared cautious hopes for the new year, reflecting on a country still reeling from war and ongoing crises.
—Ghaith Alsayed, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Given that the Bidens were stationed in the U.S. Virgin Islands for one of their final trips before the end of Joe Biden’s term in office, the dress suited the atmosphere and environment despite the rather somber and sobering news.
—Julia Teti, WWD, 30 Dec. 2024
This pause in activities serves as a somber but important reminder of the interconnectedness of South Korea’s cultural and national identities, with stars and companies stepping back from schedules and profits to honor the profound loss felt across the country.
—Jeff Benjamin, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for somber 
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William Guillory, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
While Syrians in the capital looked forward to a new beginning after Assad’s ouster, the mood was more somber along Beirut’s Mediterranean promenade, where residents shared cautious hopes for the new year, reflecting on a country still reeling from war and ongoing crises.
—Ghaith Alsayed, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Given that the Bidens were stationed in the U.S. Virgin Islands for one of their final trips before the end of Joe Biden’s term in office, the dress suited the atmosphere and environment despite the rather somber and sobering news.
—Julia Teti, WWD, 30 Dec. 2024
This pause in activities serves as a somber but important reminder of the interconnectedness of South Korea’s cultural and national identities, with stars and companies stepping back from schedules and profits to honor the profound loss felt across the country.
—Jeff Benjamin, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for somber
Dictionary Entries Near somber
Cite this Entry
“Somber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/somber. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
somber
adjective
som·ber
variants
or sombre
1
: so shaded as to be dark and gloomy
2
: melancholy entry 2 sense 1, grave
a somber mood
3
: dull or dark colored
somberly
adverb
somberness
noun
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