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
Zelensky recognized the stark choice in a somber speech to the nation on Friday, casting the plan as a choice between losing the United States as an ally and giving in to Russian demands, which many of the 28 points cater to.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Nov. 2025
Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams, a gorgeous, somber movie adapted from Denis Johnson’s 2011 novella and set largely in early 20th century Idaho, doesn’t romanticize the hardscrabble Americans who struggled to make America great the first time around.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
In his latest, Arkansas native Wyatt delivers a haunting performance, with his voice threading through somber fiddle, organ and guitar.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 17 Nov. 2025
Whereas Jacoby’s earlier singles exuded more soulful and somber soundscapes, gutta child explores a more uptempo, funk-laden sound, especially in its early tracks.
—Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for somber
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Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Nov. 2025
Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams, a gorgeous, somber movie adapted from Denis Johnson’s 2011 novella and set largely in early 20th century Idaho, doesn’t romanticize the hardscrabble Americans who struggled to make America great the first time around.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
In his latest, Arkansas native Wyatt delivers a haunting performance, with his voice threading through somber fiddle, organ and guitar.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 17 Nov. 2025
Whereas Jacoby’s earlier singles exuded more soulful and somber soundscapes, gutta child explores a more uptempo, funk-laden sound, especially in its early tracks.
—Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for somber
Cite this Entry
“Somber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/somber. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
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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