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
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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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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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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sober
After delivery, both women engaged with recovery services, which include meeting with peer support, attending recovery meetings and sometimes moving into either detoxification centers or sober housing.
—
Karli Swenson,
The Conversation,
11 June 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for sober
Karli Swenson,
The Conversation,
11 June 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for sober
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sober
Adjective
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Shares slumped 16% for a third straight session of losses, wiping out $400 billion in market cap on Monday alone.
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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).
Adjective
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Following the logical evidence feels like Detective 101, but their boss is gunning for an arrest so Gonzales gives in to Baxter’s impulse.
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Under this framework, participating engineering teams must successfully demonstrate operational quantum hardware that utilizes a specific range of low-hundreds logical qubits before the 2028 deadline.
Adjective
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To be fair, abducted 9-year-old Rainy is pretty cute, with solemn eyebrows and a conscience that continually puts her in peril.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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Grothendieck was intense and ascetic from his early days.
Adjective
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Combine gin, lime juice, syrup, Aperol and dry Curaçao in a shaker filled with ice.
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Although oil companies still needed to use up a significant portion of their inventories during the supply shock, the demand destruction kept crude stockpiles from running dry.
Adjective
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This is worth remembering amid perhaps reasonable excitement about the World Cup.
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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.
Adjective
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What Research Shows About Cancer in Dogs While there is no evidence that turkey tail shrinks tumors, the mushroom has drawn real scientific interest as a complementary therapy for serious illness.
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The new guidance was heavily criticized by health groups, which argued the decision could sow confusion and leave children vulnerable to serious disease.
Cite this Entry
“Sober.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sober. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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