somber

adjective

som·​ber ˈsäm-bər How to pronounce somber (audio)
variants or sombre
1
: so shaded as to be dark and gloomy
2
a
: of a serious mien : grave
somber dignitaries
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.
Recent Examples on the Web The film takes a somber turn when Alison Tavel seeks out one of her father’s friends: Gordon Baird, the co-founder of Musician magazine (which was under common ownership with Billboard during the 1980s). Thom Duffy, Billboard, 8 Mar. 2024 But the shadow of the war in Gaza, Khalil said, will make this Ramadan a somber time for many. Sarah Dadouch, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 While striking a celebratory note, this year’s festival nevertheless unfolds against the somber backdrop of world affairs, as the mounting humanitarian toll of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza continues to dominate headlines, while Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its third year. Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 Celebrating the life of a Miami arts giant And on a somber note, Miami’s arts community will pay their respects to a legendary arts patron and philanthropist. Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024 Gyllenhaal also does an excellent job of highlighting Jeff's exhaustion, with a somber weariness in his eyes that makes his persistence all the more inspiring. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 29 Feb. 2024 Last fall, it was reported that the White House had circulated a somber, confidential analysis that solidarity for Ukraine among allies might crumble without additional concrete steps being taken to stem the perception of corruption that still bedevils the country. James P. Moore Jr., Fortune Europe, 22 Feb. 2024 Students heading to the high school for their midterm exams said that school has been different since last week — the tone has become more somber, and the siblings are no longer there. Dan Belson, Baltimore Sun, 25 Jan. 2024 Getting more screen time and probably coming as close to a sympathetic figure as the series offers, Riseborough has a somber, occasionally hilarious, wraith-like quality as a woman who recognizes how dysfunctional the palace is, but can do nothing to stop it. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'somber.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French sombre

First Known Use

1760, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of somber was in 1760

Dictionary Entries Near somber

Cite this Entry

“Somber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/somber. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

somber

adjective
som·​ber
variants or sombre
1
: so shaded as to be dark and gloomy
2
3
: dull or dark colored
somberly adverb
somberness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on somber

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