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
Organizers’ decision to line the entrance to Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar with a black carpet, rather than a red one, set a somewhat somber tone — one that was matched by an abundance of black suits and dresses.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
There’s also a palpable push to up the Pittsburgh-specific material that honors the real place outside the hospital doors, from somber reminders of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting to lighthearted traditions like an annual furry convention.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Jan. 2026
There was an air of somber stillness, with the mostly young crowd sharing hugs, and expressions of shock and disbelief.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 2 Jan. 2026
In a somber Alabama locker room, Tide players gave credit to the Hoosiers but also acknowledged the obvious.
—Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for somber
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Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
There’s also a palpable push to up the Pittsburgh-specific material that honors the real place outside the hospital doors, from somber reminders of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting to lighthearted traditions like an annual furry convention.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Jan. 2026
There was an air of somber stillness, with the mostly young crowd sharing hugs, and expressions of shock and disbelief.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 2 Jan. 2026
In a somber Alabama locker room, Tide players gave credit to the Hoosiers but also acknowledged the obvious.
—Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 2 Jan. 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 6 Jan. 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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