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
The mood this year is expected to be more somber and low key than is typical, with the addition of a candlelight vigil to honor lives lost.
—Anne Schrager, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Mar. 2026
After a quick assessment of Amy’s injuries, Claire makes somber eye contact with Jamie.
—Lincee Ray, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026
Whatever your position on the war, killing human beings is a matter for somber reflection and not the intense joy Hegseth displays.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
The big story Instead of trumpeting China's tech advances, Premier Li Qiang struck an uncharacteristically somber tone during a nationwide address on policy plans.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for somber
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Anne Schrager, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Mar. 2026
After a quick assessment of Amy’s injuries, Claire makes somber eye contact with Jamie.
—Lincee Ray, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026
Whatever your position on the war, killing human beings is a matter for somber reflection and not the intense joy Hegseth displays.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
The big story Instead of trumpeting China's tech advances, Premier Li Qiang struck an uncharacteristically somber tone during a nationwide address on policy plans.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 11 Mar. 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 19 Mar. 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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