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 bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
the somber occasion of a dear friend's funeral
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of somber
Hancock’s visit came at a somber time for his alma mater.
—
Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s visit today to the 9/11 memorial was a somber moment.
—Elise Hammond, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, the night’s after-parties continued, though organizers attempted a more somber tone.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Although the ceremony was somber, in the minutes leading up to it, music played and people dressed in orange, bright yellow and black exchanged hugs and laughs.
—Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for somber
Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s visit today to the 9/11 memorial was a somber moment.
—Elise Hammond, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, the night’s after-parties continued, though organizers attempted a more somber tone.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Although the ceremony was somber, in the minutes leading up to it, music played and people dressed in orange, bright yellow and black exchanged hugs and laughs.
—Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for somber
Recent Examples of Synonyms for somber
Adjective
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In the darkened foyer, Ember contemplated this unassuming bit of paper, momentarily paralyzed by a mixture of dread and excitement stirred together, an overpowering sensation that oozed from the crown of her head, down the length of her body, then hardened, like a soft golden resin becoming solid.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
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As scientists often find darkened teeth in ancient burials, other factors can contribute to a black appearance, notably the chewing of betel leaves.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Speaking at an event held at the Aloft Hotel in Doral, a hub for Venezuelan diaspora activism, Guanipa painted a bleak picture of conditions inside Venezuela and sharply criticized the country’s current leadership, accusing those in power of clinging to control despite widespread rejection.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
2 May 2026
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Without giving too much away about the endings of Caveat and Oddity, McCarthy (like Ohm) leans toward the bleak and open-ended.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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But what exactly happens to these baby stars next isn't always clear (literally) because they are buried deep within clouds of dark, dusty gas that obscure them.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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All the bedrooms can be found upstairs, including one that’s currently being used as an office and a primary suite flaunting dual dressing rooms and baths, plus a sauna clad in dark gray stone.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Protesters carried myriad homemade signs, some tongue-in-cheek, some more solemn.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
2 May 2026
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Their day began with a solemn visit to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, which involved a meeting with families of victims and first responders.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But beyond its account of a family in flight, from both the authorities and its own murkier truths, Dangerous, Dirty, Violent and Young interrogates the radicalism of the 1960s and 70s, its unlikely alliances, its political legacies, and its many, many casualties along the way.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Apr. 2026
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Most people have come to terms with that, but things get murkier in the realm of AI.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This level of security is a depressing necessity in modern-day Britain.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
1 May 2026
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The movie is simultaneously more depressing than the original and more saccharine, with a repellent amount of affection between characters who should know better.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Treating depressive symptoms without looking at factors such as childhood trauma, the loss of a loved one, or being laid off from a job is an incomplete approach, many mental health researchers and clinicians say.—
Aneri Pattani,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
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But its depressive effect can harm mental health, physical health, and personal relationships.—
Claire Zillman,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Even populous British colonies like Virginia and Pennsylvania grew blurry on their western frontiers, where indistinct borders were protected by a few lonely forts.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Eyre-Morgan, who also wrote the script, stars as a lonely thirtysomething named Benji looking for a connection of any kind following a particularly devastating breakup.—
David Opie,
IndieWire,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Somber.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/somber. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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