sobriety

noun

so·​bri·​ety sə-ˈbrī-ə-tē 

sō-

: the quality or state of being sober

Synonyms of sobriety

• intentness
• gravity
• earnestness
• soberness
• earnest

Examples of sobriety in a Sentence

They did a sobriety test on him.

the sobriety of the situation

Recent Examples on the Web

As Manganiello was just beginning to recover, weaning himself with difficulty from a heavy regimen of painkillers that had tested his sobriety, his agent called with the news that Ben Affleck wanted to discuss a role in the new Batman movie. — Joe Manganiello, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

At the Breath of Life meeting, which lasted an hour, each attendee thanked God for their sobriety. — Oliver Whang, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2026

The abundance of liquor in the place once again threatens to pry Catherine from her sobriety. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2026

The usual bleary nausea of such early rises is absent, shooed away by sobriety, exercises, and fruits and vegetables. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sobrete, from Anglo-French sobreté, from Latin sobrietat-, sobrietas, from sobrius

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sobriety

• gaiety
• piety
• antianxiety
• intersociety
• anxiety
• impiety
• propriety
• satiety
• society
• variety
• contrariety
• impropriety

Kids Definition

sobriety

noun

so·​bri·​ety sə-ˈbrī-ət-ē 

: the quality or state of being sober