variants
or sombre
1
as in darkened
being without light or without much light
the prison's somber interrogation room has the desired effect of striking fear and despair into the prisoner
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
the somber occasion of a dear friend's funeral
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of somber
Fjord is a somber movie about an ultra-religious couple who move with their family of five from Romania to Norway, only to have the citizens of their new town accuse them of child abuse.
—
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 27 May 2026
On a somber night in Las Vegas, a feeling far too common for far too many in this city, Landeskog talked through the pain.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 27 May 2026
The somber moment at the Coca-Cola 600 came one day after Kyle's family shared his cause of death.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 25 May 2026
Rain washed out qualifying Saturday, and the gray, overcast sky served as a fitting background for the somber mood enveloping Charlotte Motor Speedway and its 1½-mile track.
—Steve Reed, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for somber
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 27 May 2026
On a somber night in Las Vegas, a feeling far too common for far too many in this city, Landeskog talked through the pain.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 27 May 2026
The somber moment at the Coca-Cola 600 came one day after Kyle's family shared his cause of death.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 25 May 2026
Rain washed out qualifying Saturday, and the gray, overcast sky served as a fitting background for the somber mood enveloping Charlotte Motor Speedway and its 1½-mile track.
—Steve Reed, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for somber
Recent Examples of Synonyms for somber
Adjective
-
She’s talked up her push to convert darkened streetlights, many of them stripped of their copper wire, to solar power.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
-
In the darkened foyer, Ember contemplated this unassuming bit of paper, momentarily paralyzed by a mixture of dread and excitement stirred together, an overpowering sensation that oozed from the crown of her head, down the length of her body, then hardened, like a soft golden resin becoming solid.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In Meetings, Merlin sat agitated with a folder of newspaper clippings in his lap, occasionally shedding bleak confetti.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Aug. 2025
-
On paper, business over the next few weeks looks bleak.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
But the true story behind it is a dark, sad and overall pretty confusing one.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
Trudeau embraced the Southern California vibes and wore a green T-shirt with black shorts and a pair of dark sunglasses.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
The site now a solemn memorial.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Dec. 2025
-
The Constitution vests the executive with the power—and indeed the solemn duty—to repel threats, protect commerce, and secure the nation against those who would do it harm.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The exact outcome of that mini-summit remains murky.—
Andrew P. Collins,
The Drive,
11 June 2026
-
Some answers, though, fell on the edge of this somewhat murky threshold—thus the slight toss-up in final scores.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
When Aston Villa supporters reflect on the growing stature of their club, many like to compare the euphoria with the dark and depressing times of the recent past.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
10 Dec. 2025
-
Following that news, the Fighting Irish decided to decline their bowl game invitation, ending a depressing finish to what had been a great all-around season.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
According to the Cleveland Clinic, bipolar disorder is marked by periods of mania, along with depressive episodes.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
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In a 2025 study of 209 adolescents aged 10 to 17 who had a depressive or anxiety disorder, researchers examined iron deficiency and anxiety through brain scans and interviews.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
House is a major character in the New Vegas game; not a lonely guy, Theroux insists, but one perfectly happy being alone with his thoughts.—
The Deadline Team,
Deadline,
10 June 2026
-
KillsEnemy's road to recovery was long and lonely.—
Libby Smith,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Somber.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/somber. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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