sepulchral

adjective

sə-ˈpəl-krəl How to pronounce sepulchral (audio)
Definition of sepulchralnext
as in somber
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer the decrepit mansion had a sepulchral tone that gave everyone a chill

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 sepulchral One of the few women working in that era, she was known for austere and unsettling portraits in sepulchral spaces. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 6 May 2025 The Dead Man seems very aware of that fact and has cultivated a sepulchral image for decades and now he's revealed that his aura of intimidation extended to all of his WWE opponents. — Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 26 Jan. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for sepulchral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sepulchral
  1. somber
  2. bleak
  3. dark
  4. solemn
  5. depressive
  6. lonely
  7. desolate
  8. depressing
Adjective
  • Davis was much more somber, and his attorney, Wayne Higgins, is heard frequently admonishing his client for volunteering unnecessary information.
    — Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Bookended by drone shots of the Macedonian countryside and a somber cello refrain by Novogradska, this 86-minute doc is otherwise composed of scoreless interviews with subjects seated in front of black curtains and captured in medium range.
    — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of somber
Adjective
  • Although the news may be bleak for the dinner's thousands of supporters, the committee also shared a glimmer of hope.
    — Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Aug. 2026
  • In many ways, her life feels like a bleak look at the false promise of placing all of your need for validation in your husband.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • On top of the moving-camera-foamy-dark-mouth challenge, there was the plaque challenge.
    — Jenny Bailly, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Finley’s breakout was the 2017 dark comedy Thoroughbreds, in which Olivia Cooke and Anya Taylor-Joy play high-schoolers conspiring to kill an abusive stepfather.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of dark
Adjective
  • The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner made a solemn pledge to never stop trying.
    — Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Both are powerful spots of natural beauty and deep cultural significance, but for a less solemn outing, the little islet of Ojima sits neatly between the two.
    — Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of solemn
Adjective
  • Antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs such as Celexa, Prozac and Zoloft, target a range of depressive and anxiety disorders.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Up to a certain point, social media use didn't pop as a big predictor for depressive feelings.
    — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of depressive
Adjective
  • This generation is lonelier, more anxious and more depressed than any before it.
    — Tom Suozzi, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Those who reported feeling lonely had a 14% higher risk of dying early than those who did not.
    — Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of lonely
Adjective
  • Exploring Indonesia—an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands—over more than 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, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Noisemaker feels a genuine kinship with the Gallico story, including its setting, a desolate stretch of coastline in eastern England.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of desolate
Adjective
  • Climate change, depressing and overwhelming, falls into that category.
    — Peter Prengaman, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Keegan’s first decision at Newcastle as manager in 1992 was to fumigate the depressing training ground.
    — Michael Walker, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of depressing

Browse Nearby Words

septuagenarian
sepulchral
sepulchre
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sepulchral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sepulchral. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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