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
adverbsomberness
nounFrom the M-W Editors
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
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Last year’s march, held weeks after a gunman killed 49 people in a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., was somber.
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Diane Smith dianesmith@star-telegram.com Bedford apartment: The mood is somber where Kaytlynn was last seen with her dog.
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Our next lunch was somber, and the day after that my three co-workers went out to eat, not inviting me.
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There was no dancing as the mood grew more somber during a Vietnam veterans song.
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Press secretary Sean Spicer described it as a somber scene.
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Trump said, his tone somber, America’s acrimonious politics set aside for the moment.
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Khloé tells the ladies about her fertility issue and is pretty somber.
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Officials who would ordinarily gush over falling crime rates were instead restrained and somber.
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.
Origin and Etymology of somber
French sombre
SOMBER Defined for English Language Learners
somber
playDefinition of somber for English Language Learners
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: very sad and serious
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: having a dull or dark color
SOMBER Defined for Kids
Learn More about somber
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See words that rhyme with somber Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for somber Spanish Central: Translation of somber Nglish: Translation of somber for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of somber for Arabic speakers
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