1
as in straight
not having one's mind affected by alcohol
it's important to stay sober if you're going to be driving a car
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in logical
based on sound reasoning or information
a sober assessment of the situation
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3
as in solemn
not joking or playful in mood or manner
a sober reply to what was only a teasing comment
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4
as in quiet
not excessively showy
if you don't have anything in black, at least wear a sober outfit to the funeral
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5
as in ascetic
given to or marked by restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites
cruise passengers of sober dispositions will be put off by the focus on nonstop dining
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as in intentness
a mental state free of jesting or trifling
the unexpected soberness of the class clown at the memorial service was startling
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sober
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 June 2025
His winding path to his dream role included a stint as a punk drummer and hitting pause on his country career to get sober.
—Bluesky Social, 5 June 2025
Battling drug addiction, Sink signed up for a Planet Fitness membership with the hope working out would keep him sober, according to a probable cause statement obtained by the Indianapolis Star.
—Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2025
Re: Florida boaters claim wrongful arrest and jail time for boating DUI despite being sober, by Shira Moolten
Kudos to Gov. Ron DeSantis for implementing the Boater Freedom Act.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sober
Adjective
On season eight of the show, Radke butted heads with then-fiancée Lindsay Hubbard, who demanded more ambition from him and immediately nixed his idea for starting a sober sports bar.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 June 2025
His winding path to his dream role included a stint as a punk drummer and hitting pause on his country career to get sober.
—Bluesky Social, 5 June 2025
Battling drug addiction, Sink signed up for a Planet Fitness membership with the hope working out would keep him sober, according to a probable cause statement obtained by the Indianapolis Star.
—Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2025
Re: Florida boaters claim wrongful arrest and jail time for boating DUI despite being sober, by Shira Moolten
Kudos to Gov. Ron DeSantis for implementing the Boater Freedom Act.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sober
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sober
Adjective
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Third baseman Brett Baty was also out of the lineup for the third straight game with groin soreness.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
20 June 2025
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Users were quick to point out the paradox of straight women using a song about gender fluidity to talk about their ex boyfriends.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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Rudy Gobert is a logical salary to go the other way to Phoenix in a Durant trade.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
18 June 2025
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Neymar’s departure left Al Hilal as the logical Saudi landing spot for Mohamed Salah this summer, but the Egyptian’s decision to sign a two-year extension with Liverpool in April scuppered Plan A.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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In the procedural drama, Rodríguez brings to life a multi-layered and solemn character shaped by a traumatic childhood — abused within the foster care system, with no knowledge of his origins, and struggling with severe dyslexia.—
Veronica Villafañe,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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This protection -- known as the seal of confession -- is among the oldest and most solemn obligations in the Catholic Church, grounded in the Church’s teaching that, in the sacrament, penitents are confidentially confessing to and receiving forgiveness from God.—
Hiram Sasser,
National Review,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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For those looking to venture farther, Cruz Bay’s private itineraries stretch deep into the BVI, blending gourmet dining, reef diving, and quiet anchorages into one seamless luxurious adventure.—
Tanya Benedicto Klich,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
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An eerie quiet hung over the Fashion District in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday.—
Kaitlyn Huamani,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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But Pascal, for all the twinkle in his eye, often plays relatively sexless characters — from the fatherly energy of The Last of Us to the ascetic qualities of The Mandalorian.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
9 June 2025
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Meanwhile, narratives of Ayyappan usually describe him as a god raised as a human prince who becomes a warrior and finally an ascetic.—
Deepa Das Acevedo,
Foreign Affairs,
4 Apr. 2019
Adjective
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The most surprising result was how tightly curled my hair was post-blow dry.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
23 June 2025
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Along the way, hikers will pass by a few creeks — some dry, others with water — and cross over wooden bridges.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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Conrad is a 6-3 defenseman who can skate and has shown reasonable offense in the Q.—
Corey Pronman,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
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Recent verdicts have far exceeded historical benchmarks, and without reasonable limits, runaway jury awards threaten the city’s ability to fund essential services.—
Paul Vallas,
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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That poses a serious challenge for Israel's air-to-ground capability.—
Kat Lonsdorf,
NPR,
17 June 2025
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Last season, especially over the latter half of the campaign following the Miller trade, Vancouver’s penalty kill morphed into a serious weapon.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sober.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sober. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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