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
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
A lot of the most somber music at the turn of the millennium was moving in its lo-fi recording quality.
—Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 13 Apr. 2026
Kati Bihu is a more somber occasion, when families offer prayers for a bountiful harvest.
—Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Apr. 2026
But just beneath the surface lies a somber discussion about the most famous man in the sport, who is a long way from here.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2026
One wall is a somber portrait of Americans suffering the effects of child poverty, old age, and unemployment.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for somber
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Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 13 Apr. 2026
Kati Bihu is a more somber occasion, when families offer prayers for a bountiful harvest.
—Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Apr. 2026
But just beneath the surface lies a somber discussion about the most famous man in the sport, who is a long way from here.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2026
One wall is a somber portrait of Americans suffering the effects of child poverty, old age, and unemployment.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for somber
Cite this Entry
“Somber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/somber. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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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