1
as in intentness
a mental state free of jesting or trifling
an abrupt sobriety fell over the group when they heard the news
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in temperance
voluntary restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites
although she can afford to wear anything, she practices a sartorial sobriety that bespeaks class and taste
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sobriety
Subsequent footage shows cops instructing Timberlake to complete a series of sobriety tests.
—
Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026
Police then conduct a series of standardized field sobriety tests and, later, to administer a breath test.
—Gma Team, ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
Next, Timberlake can be seen handing over his license and registration before stepping out of the car to undergo a series of sobriety tests.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2026
Timberlake's sobriety test The footage then shows officers giving Timberlake a sobriety test.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sobriety
Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026
Police then conduct a series of standardized field sobriety tests and, later, to administer a breath test.
—Gma Team, ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
Next, Timberlake can be seen handing over his license and registration before stepping out of the car to undergo a series of sobriety tests.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2026
Timberlake's sobriety test The footage then shows officers giving Timberlake a sobriety test.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sobriety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sobriety
Noun
-
In the case of Steve Jobs, his incredible strength in transcendence tips into excess because it is not supported by other dimensions of character, such as patience, calm, and self-regulation that come from temperance, and the humility and humanity to see other points of view.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
On a single day in 1900, a former schoolteacher destroyed three saloons using bricks, rocks, and a billiard ball—all to advance the cause of temperance.—
The Atlantic Science Desk,
The Atlantic,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
That is the highest-level designation for severe accidents, placing it alongside the fatal Challenger (1986) and Columbia (2003) shuttle disasters in terms of gravity.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The Moon is exceptionally large compared with Earth for a natural satellite, and at only 30 Earth-diameters away from the Earth, its gravity is significant enough to be the dominant factor in determining the oceanic tides that our planet experiences.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Taparjan’s voiceover fills the soundtrack with the same earnestness.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The violent earnestness is like a speaker-phone therapy session on a crowded subway.—
Samuel Hyland,
Pitchfork,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Because of the way the director works, emotions tend to be more discussed than felt, although there’s something about Carla’s desperation that pierces through all the soberness.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Despite the bitter path to this threshold—the debate started in earnest in 1915—almost no one cheered.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The trial, which is expected to last two weeks, started in earnest on March 10 with opening statements, and three other accusers are poised to testify, the New York Times reported.—
Victoria Bekiempis,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sobriety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sobriety. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
