variants
or sombre
1
as in darkened
being without light or without much light
the prison's somber interrogation room has the desired effect of striking fear and despair into the prisoner
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in solemn
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
the somber occasion of a dear friend's funeral
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of somber
Less than two weeks after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, an Army-Navy football game played in front of a crowd of 102,000 spectators at Philadelphia’s Municipal Stadium on December 7, 1963, might have been a subdued and somber affair.
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Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Dec. 2024
Back in the locker room and away from the field where the Patriots lost a not-as-close-as-it-sounds 34-15 game, the mood wasn’t somber.
—Chad Graff, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
The show is slow-paced and somber, and Sheridan seems to relish in emphasizing the many ways that pioneers died.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 18 Nov. 2024
Dressed in somber black, his wife, Kate, watched on from a balcony of the nearby Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, as is tradition.
—Pan Pylas, Chicago Tribune, 10 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for somber 
Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Dec. 2024
Back in the locker room and away from the field where the Patriots lost a not-as-close-as-it-sounds 34-15 game, the mood wasn’t somber.
—Chad Graff, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
The show is slow-paced and somber, and Sheridan seems to relish in emphasizing the many ways that pioneers died.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 18 Nov. 2024
Dressed in somber black, his wife, Kate, watched on from a balcony of the nearby Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, as is tradition.
—Pan Pylas, Chicago Tribune, 10 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for somber
Recent Examples of Synonyms for somber
Adjective
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But less interesting doesn’t mean less impactful, as Foxx imbues with solemn reverence the emotional turmoil of re-learning to stand, walk, and clean himself.Lucy Ford, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
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The actors are prime, but the movie is a solemn affair that could use more grandeur.Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The user posted the images and videos, including an image of a light in the sky, and several videos that appear to be shot from a plane cabin, but are very dark.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
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Editors and dermatologists alike love it for its fine line–smoothing powers, along with its ability to dramatically lighten dark spots caused by sun damage.Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Halfway through, Boilen casually mentions that her good friend Alan Sparhawk (of the band Low), with whom Lea has a band called the Murder of Crows, will be joining her for two of their songs; their duet is almost funereal, both somber and gorgeous, buoyed by an indomitable optimism.Matthew Ismael Ruiz, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2024
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In the hands of Nelson, the song — with atmospheric, funereal production and Willie’s tearjerker vocals — becomes autobiographical.Andrew Kirell, NBC News, 29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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But the dog domestication saga gets even murkier in the context of the peopling of the Americas, which might have occurred sometime between 27,000 and 16,000 years ago.Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Dec. 2024
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Yet the science surrounding the Pet Effect is murky, at best.Jessica Pierce, TIME, 15 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Ellie is a smart, lonely girl desperate for a sense of family after the death of her father.Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Dec. 2024
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My point is, there’s something a bit lonely about the happy endings for many of these characters, and a bit irritating about the idea that being physically close to other people is an experience to be avoided at all costs.Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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However, sad to say, Gmail accounts remain a prime target for attackers of all sorts and understanding the threat is key to getting a grip on mitigating it.Davey Winder, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
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What kids gain from taking charge of their own feelings Having strong emotional regulation skills doesn’t mean kids won’t feel sad, angry, or frustrated — that’s part of being human.Amy Morin, Contributor, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near somber
Cite this Entry
“Somber.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/somber. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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