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
Trudy was somber and a bit peeved that Mouch had forgotten her birthday.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2025
Republicans were quick to jump out of their chairs to applaud while Democrats sat somber, arms crossed.
—Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2025
The black-and-white news footage, archived by the state, depicts a grisly scene: a bloody refrigerator door and kitchen cabinets, somber investigators and newspapers strewn across the floor to seemingly mitigate any mess.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 25 Jan. 2025
Trump’s visit to Pacific Palisades, and the wreckage left behind by the Jan. 7 firestorm, was somber but carried a hint of excitement for some.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for somber 
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Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2025
Republicans were quick to jump out of their chairs to applaud while Democrats sat somber, arms crossed.
—Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2025
The black-and-white news footage, archived by the state, depicts a grisly scene: a bloody refrigerator door and kitchen cabinets, somber investigators and newspapers strewn across the floor to seemingly mitigate any mess.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 25 Jan. 2025
Trump’s visit to Pacific Palisades, and the wreckage left behind by the Jan. 7 firestorm, was somber but carried a hint of excitement for some.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2025
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 2 Feb. 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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