1
as in straight
not having one's mind affected by alcohol
it's important to stay sober if you're going to be driving a car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in logical
based on sound reasoning or information
a sober assessment of the situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in solemn
not joking or playful in mood or manner
a sober reply to what was only a teasing comment
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in quiet
not excessively showy
if you don't have anything in black, at least wear a sober outfit to the funeral
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in ascetic
given to or marked by restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites
cruise passengers of sober dispositions will be put off by the focus on nonstop dining
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sober
Despite its sober premise, the curatorial approach of A Kind of Paradise strikes a definitively hopeful tone.
—
The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 10 June 2026
What Blinken and the others on the panel had to say was sober and sensible.
—Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
In aka Charlie Sheen, the sober (and sobered) actor looks back at his formative — and party — years with surprising clarity.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026
Days earlier, Biden responded to a post that claimed the bag of cocaine found at the White House while his father was in office — and after the 56-year-old was sober — was his.
—Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sober
The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 10 June 2026
What Blinken and the others on the panel had to say was sober and sensible.
—Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
In aka Charlie Sheen, the sober (and sobered) actor looks back at his formative — and party — years with surprising clarity.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026
Days earlier, Biden responded to a post that claimed the bag of cocaine found at the White House while his father was in office — and after the 56-year-old was sober — was his.
—Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sober
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sober
Adjective
-
Shares slumped 16% for a third straight session of losses, wiping out $400 billion in market cap on Monday alone.—
Gail Krishnan,
CNBC,
23 June 2026
-
His 2022 autobiographical family drama, The Fabelmans, proved a critical hit but a financial dud, and his adaptation of West Side Story was a straight-up flop (with losses reportedly running to $100 million).—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
22 June 2026
Adjective
-
While this might seem like the logical next step in the hiring process for a Ryan Murphy show, the suggestion felt anything but.—
Connor Hines,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
The move made little logical sense at the time.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
To be fair, abducted 9-year-old Rainy is pretty cute, with solemn eyebrows and a conscience that continually puts her in peril.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
The once-rising developer’s solemn promise is not likely to be fulfilled if court records in his federal criminal case and a parallel Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit are any indication.—
Jay Weaver
June 6,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2026
Adjective
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Prosecutors also alleged King fathered a child through an extra-marital affair and threatened the child’s mother to keep quiet.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 June 2026
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But he is viewed by Labour supporters as a more effective, optimistic and plain-speaking communicator than Starmer, who's quiet, lawyerly manner has consistently failed to connect with the public's national mood.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
Adjective
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Once inside, warm, tropical breezes flow into the hotel’s ascetic, nevertheless grand lobby, wafting you towards a magical cloister filled with plants and robust Botero sculptures.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 May 2026
-
Grothendieck was intense and ascetic from his early days.—
Konstantin Kakaes,
Quanta Magazine,
20 May 2026
Adjective
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The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.—
MIAMI HERALD HURRICANE BOT,
Miami Herald,
17 June 2026
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Storm surge combined with the normal tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.—
Kenton Gewecke,
ABC News,
17 June 2026
Adjective
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This is worth remembering amid perhaps reasonable excitement about the World Cup.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
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Fortunately, this month New York’s Legislature passed the bipartisan Responsible Data Center Development Act placing a 1-year moratorium on data center development while reasonable safeguards are created.—
Liz Krueger,
New York Daily News,
20 June 2026
Adjective
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My office will continue to vigorously prosecute defendants who pose serious threats to our community’s safety, especially our children.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
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In a touching tribute, Saliba ran over to the sideline after scoring and held up the jersey of Ismaël Koné, the teammate who left the field on a stretcher minutes earlier after suffering what looked to be a serious leg injury.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sober.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sober. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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