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
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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
as in intentness
a mental state free of jesting or trifling
laid the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with all the solemnness that the occasion requires
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of solemn
Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
Its fun-first identity is part of the draw in a market flooded with solemn storytelling and dusty barrels.
—Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Moderator Whoopi Goldberg opened the show with a solemn acknowledgment of the disaster, urging viewers in affected areas to stay safe and tune in for information on how to help.
—Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 7 July 2025
And as for Hugh Grant’s floppy-haired Edward Ferrars and Alan Rickman’s solemn Colonel Brandon?
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for solemn
Adjective
Eugene, serious and somewhat solemn, had been listening with bemusement.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
Its fun-first identity is part of the draw in a market flooded with solemn storytelling and dusty barrels.
—Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Moderator Whoopi Goldberg opened the show with a solemn acknowledgment of the disaster, urging viewers in affected areas to stay safe and tune in for information on how to help.
—Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 7 July 2025
And as for Hugh Grant’s floppy-haired Edward Ferrars and Alan Rickman’s solemn Colonel Brandon?
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for solemn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for solemn
Adjective
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The far more imposing limit is MLS’s global standing.—
Jeff Rueter,
The Athletic,
8 Feb. 2025
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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
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The report cited Biden's sleep apnea treatment and stiffened gait from arthritis, but mentioned no serious ailments.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
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And finally, a tree with serious diseases or pests that might infect the rest of the neighborhood should be removed as soon as possible.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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The work’s third movement offers an intriguing pizzicato section, as well moments of discordant — though not somber — unease.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
11 July 2025
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Both the original Godzilla film—produced in Japan less than a decade after Hiroshima and Nagasaki—and the 1956 version released in the States (with a performance by the actor Raymond Burr spliced in for American audiences) are somber and even daring for the time.—
Tom Nichols,
The Atlantic,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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Bruce Yandle is a distinguished adjunct fellow with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University and former executive director of the Federal Trade Commission.—
Bruce Yandle,
Twin Cities,
10 July 2025
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Only the day before, the distinguished British medical journal the Lancet published a study warning about the potential consequences now looming.—
Butch Meily,
Fortune,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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However, the slow collision of Ray’s two worlds unfolds with the stern casualness of two business acquaintances meeting for dinner.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
18 July 2025
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Bill Pogue’s family and friends knew him as a thoughtful, deeply sensitive man, despite his reputation as a gruff, stern, wildlife officer.—
Jim Zumbo,
Outdoor Life,
17 July 2025
Adjective
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The reversal is notable because this traditionally bleak indicator had been trending more positively under Trump's second term—until now.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
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Restaurants were closed, staff were furloughed, and the broad outlook on the hospitality industry’s future was, in a word, bleak.—
Lela London,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
Noun
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Sunday wraps up with the first day of the 2025 MLB Draft, the leg of the weekend with actual gravity.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
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Despite the gravity of the moment, the conversation ended with a charge grounded in legacy.—
Oumou Fofana,
Essence,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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Of course there's the late, great Christopher Reeve, who delivers the dual portrayal (physically awkward nerd and calmly dignified heroism) all others continue to be judged by.—
Will Harris,
EW.com,
11 July 2025
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What’s more, the Senate used to be a more dignified, less partisan place — especially when compared with the fractious House.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Solemn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solemn. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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