somber

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adjective som·ber \ˈsäm-bər\

variants: or

sombre

Definition of somber

1 : so shaded as to be dark and gloomy
2a : of a serious mien : grave somber dignitariesb : of a dismal or depressing character : melancholyc : conveying gloomy suggestions or ideas
3 : of a dull or heavy cast or shade : dark colored

somberly

adverb

somberness

noun

See somber defined for English-language learners

See somber defined for kids

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.

Recent Examples of somber from the Web

Our next lunch was somber, and the day after that my three co-workers went out to eat, not inviting me.

— lynne curry, Alaska Dispatch News, "How to respond when politics sours workplace friendships", 20 June 2017
There was no dancing as the mood grew more somber during a Vietnam veterans song.

— karen caffarini, Post-Tribune, "Hobart Water Festival celebrates Native American dances, rituals", 17 June 2017
Press secretary Sean Spicer described it as a somber scene.

— laura litvan, Bloomberg.com, "Trump Says GOP Lawmaker ‘In Some Trouble’ After Gunshot Wound", 15 June 2017
Trump said, his tone somber, America’s acrimonious politics set aside for the moment.

— Washington Post, "Rifle-wielding attacker wounds GOP leader, killed by police", 14 June 2017
Khloé tells the ladies about her fertility issue and is pretty somber.

— mariah smith, The Cut, "Even Kardashians Are Told to Freeze Their Eggs", 12 June 2017
Thousands of fans lined the streets of Macon to honor Allman, who was carried into Rose Hill Cemetery as a bagpiper played a somber tune.

— jeff martin, chicagotribune.com, "Southern rocker Gregg Allman laid to rest near Highway 41", 4 June 2017
Horn calls peaked the enormous tutti crescendos, and Till approached his somber end with an insolent whistle from clarinet.

— by libby hanssen, kansascity.com, "Summertime energy: Pianist Emanuel Ax performs with Kansas City Symphony at Helzberg", 3 June 2017
The next day, at a somber news conference, a doctor said Mike Frier would likely never walk again.

— jayson jenks, The Seattle Times, "What happened to Seahawks’ Mike Frier? A story of a big man and a bigger loss", 2 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'somber'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.