1
as in imposing
having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner
the director of the funeral home has a fittingly solemn demeanor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in serious
not joking or playful in mood or manner
solemn as a judge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in somber
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
the Capitol's rotunda was draped in solemn decorations of a state funeral
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 solemn
Only the buzz of Israeli drones overhead filled the solemn silence.
—
Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 7 June 2025
The score becomes grand and syrupy whenever there’s a big emotional revelation; characters deliver solemn soliloquies on the orderly beauty of math.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 6 June 2025
For Roberto Gómez Fernandez, the challenge was for the series not to become a solemn, saintly tribute to the larger-than-life figure their father was.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
The atmosphere inside took a solemn turn as fans filed out of the arena following Leon Draisaitl’s OT power-play goal.
—Kaitlyn Pohly, Miami Herald, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for solemn
Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 7 June 2025
The score becomes grand and syrupy whenever there’s a big emotional revelation; characters deliver solemn soliloquies on the orderly beauty of math.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 6 June 2025
For Roberto Gómez Fernandez, the challenge was for the series not to become a solemn, saintly tribute to the larger-than-life figure their father was.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
The atmosphere inside took a solemn turn as fans filed out of the arena following Leon Draisaitl’s OT power-play goal.
—Kaitlyn Pohly, Miami Herald, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for solemn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for solemn
Adjective
-
The far more imposing limit is MLS’s global standing.—
Jeff Rueter,
The Athletic,
8 Feb. 2025
-
And on the other hand, in a world where most of their top arms remain healthy and effective, the Dodgers could possess one of the most imposing starting pitching staffs in recent memory.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
To be sure, there have been positive signs that the revival was working, not least because the Tata’s were prepared to deploy serious capital and effort to back its ambitions.—
Vasuki Shastry,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
-
Historians often describe Flammarion more as a popularizer than a serious scientist, but this should not diminish his accomplishments.—
Matthew Shindell,
Space.com,
29 June 2025
Adjective
-
His overjoyed demeanor starkly contrasted with his somber appearance in court just a day before when jurors said they were deadlocked on one of the five counts.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
2 July 2025
-
However, while circumstances were smooth-sailing at the start, things quickly took a somber turn on July 2, 1937.—
Yasmeen Hamadeh,
People.com,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
From September 25-28, the Windy City hosts Chicago Gourmet one of the nation’s most distinguished food festivals.—
Judy Koutsky,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
-
Developers feed their chatbot models on a torrent of material, much of it scraped from the web — everything from distinguished literary works to random babbling — as well as collections holding millions of books, articles, scientific papers and the like, some of it copyrighted.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
As the bow and stern sections tore free from one another, the ship’s contents were ejected and rained down across the ocean floor, dispersing everything from luggage and dinnerware to engine parts and personal belongings.—
Jordan Runtagh,
People.com,
6 July 2025
-
The affable Carroll was the polar opposite of the stern hard-driving Parcells.—
Tribune Content Agency,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 July 2025
Adjective
-
Some traders said the numbers were less severe than analysts' bleak forecasts.—
Sabrina Valle,
USA Today,
3 July 2025
-
No one is as funny and as bleak in the same sentence, or maybe even the same word.—
Literary Hub
July 1,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2025
Adjective
-
For me, to begin having dignified policies around border and immigration, there would have to be a commitment from state actors that human rights need to be a priority in how policies are developed.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 June 2025
-
Bezos and Sanchez — who began an affair with each other while married to other people — could have celebrated their love for each other in a dignified private ceremony with close family and friends.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
26 June 2025
Adjective
-
The way this plays out is via a series of extremely earnest conversations about feelings, something women tend to be better at than men just given the way they are socialized.—
Rich Juzwiak,
Time,
25 June 2025
-
That means energy prices may be volatile until conditions settle down – even as summer vacations start in earnest and a massive heat wave grips the central and eastern parts of the country.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Solemn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solemn. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share