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
Delon’s somber, statuesque performance as a man of few words received critical praise, and the role remains one of the most memorable of his career.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Aug. 2024
Comedian Victoria Jackson delivered a somber message to her followers this week.
—Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2024
In his first public remarks since dropping out of the presidential race on Sunday, Biden pledged during a somber 10-minute address to spend his last six months in office working to make sure the United States remains strong, secure and the leader of the free world.
—Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 25 July 2024
Emily in Paris serves up somber recollections about Sylvie’s former boss alongside an absurd revenge scheme orchestrated by another character: One of Louis’s designers goes behind his back to debut formalwear with ornate phallic designs hanging from the front of the pants.
—Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for somber 
Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Aug. 2024
Comedian Victoria Jackson delivered a somber message to her followers this week.
—Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2024
In his first public remarks since dropping out of the presidential race on Sunday, Biden pledged during a somber 10-minute address to spend his last six months in office working to make sure the United States remains strong, secure and the leader of the free world.
—Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 25 July 2024
Emily in Paris serves up somber recollections about Sylvie’s former boss alongside an absurd revenge scheme orchestrated by another character: One of Louis’s designers goes behind his back to debut formalwear with ornate phallic designs hanging from the front of the pants.
—Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for somber
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'somber.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near somber
Cite this Entry
“Somber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/somber. Accessed 20 Sep. 2024.
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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