sobering

adjective

so·​ber·​ing ˈsō-b(ə-)riŋ 

: tending to make one thoughtful or sober

Examples of sobering in a Sentence

His death is a sobering reminder of the dangers of mountaineering.

Recent Examples on the Web

The researchers recovered usable DNA from 95 historical specimens spanning nearly 140 years and compared them with modern samples collected in the 2000s, and the results painted a sobering picture. — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Given that about 70% of people turning 65 will need some level of long-term care during their remaining years, some of the stats are sobering. — Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026

The narrative starts immediately after the encounter and charts her harrowing fight to get past it, physically and mentally, putting any of my own struggles into a sobering perspective. — The Know, Denver Post, 9 Aug. 2026

Clinical psychologist Jennice Vilhauer, a member of the advisory boards of both Loeb’s UAP Council and the Disclosure Foundation, spoke at the June 25 event, and her words were sobering. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined above