as in somber
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
the decrepit mansion had a sepulchral tone that gave everyone a chill
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sepulchral
Short and broad with sepulchral eyes, Karrenna wore a bucket hat, polo shirt, shorts, and flip-flops.
—
Sean Williams, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
For the occasion, the Shed’s Griffin Theater greets guests with an antechamber cast in sepulchral light and hung with wall size images from Sakamoto’s life.
—Max Lakin, New York Times, 25 June 2023
The lighting is sepulchral, the air dank.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2020
Wolverine Blues saw Swedish death-metal pioneers Entombed slowing down and adding a rock and roll swagger to their grisly, sepulchral sound, and in the process realizing some of their most memorable material.
—Hank Shteamer, SPIN, 24 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for sepulchral
Sean Williams, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
For the occasion, the Shed’s Griffin Theater greets guests with an antechamber cast in sepulchral light and hung with wall size images from Sakamoto’s life.
—Max Lakin, New York Times, 25 June 2023
The lighting is sepulchral, the air dank.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2020
Wolverine Blues saw Swedish death-metal pioneers Entombed slowing down and adding a rock and roll swagger to their grisly, sepulchral sound, and in the process realizing some of their most memorable material.
—Hank Shteamer, SPIN, 24 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for sepulchral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sepulchral
Adjective
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Despite its somber lyrics, the song’s beat will rightfully lead to voguing in a party setting.—
Meagan Jordan,
Rolling Stone,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Despite his seemingly somber expression, Max is a happy dog.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Europe’s biggest economy Germany shrank more than expected in the second quarter of the year and faces a bleak outlook.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
22 Aug. 2025
-
The fiscal prospects for both Chicago and its transit authority are bleak.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Sydney Sweeney’s new dark crime comedy Americana is new in theaters this weekend.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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One look at his lone, dark face in his Brighton High class picture tells you.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The researchers combined data from three previous German randomized clinical trials that aimed to reduce elevated depressive symptoms and diabetes distress in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.—
Paul McClure
August 09,
New Atlas,
9 Aug. 2025
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However, the majority of those studies found that the supplements didn’t outperform a placebo in reducing depressive symptoms.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
Health,
16 July 2025
Adjective
-
Exploring Indonesia—an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands—over a decade has led me to some truly jaw-dropping beaches, some gloriously desolate, others vibrantly alive with international travelers, expats, and locals.—
Kathryn Romeyn,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Aug. 2025
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Meanwhile, two days before the double murder, a 21-year-old man was shot and wounded around 3:30 a.m. on the same desolate block, which is about a mile and a half from where Sanchez was killed, cops said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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But when Shapiro demoed it on piano, Stiller recognized a spiritual cousin to David Shire’s lonely, somewhat jazzy solo piano score for The Conversation.—
Tim Greiving,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Aug. 2025
-
Although Devil Girl from Mars was typical of the silly, schlocky TV fare that Estelle watched on many afternoons during her childhood, this movie was more than entertainment for a bored, lonely girl-child.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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There really isn’t any ambiguity here: Congress must debate and deliberate over the solemn decision to declare and make war, and the executive carries out its mandates as commander in chief.—
Chris Lehmann,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
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For Shia Muslims, Ashura is a solemn occasion where Imam Hussain, Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, and many of his companions and family members are remembered and honored after being killed in the Battle of Karbala in Iraq in A.D. 680.—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Gambling today, however, is a sad and depressing experience, nothing like my dad’s and my Atlantic City adventure.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Aug. 2025
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And yet, somehow, the most depressing show on TV—with the exception of any news broadcast, at least—is a reality soap about bougie couples in the suburbs of Los Angeles.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sepulchral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sepulchral. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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