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 solemn
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
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Recent Examples of somber
The Opening Day festivities in the Bronx took on a somber tone Thursday as the Yankees honored the late son of former outfielder Brett Gardner.
—
Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2025
Expand All Sergio Pino’s attorney and family members appeared somber as they were relegated behind police tape along with reporters and TV crews on a muggy morning in Coral Gables as the FBI raided the prominent developer’s house on Tuesday.
—Tess Riski, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2025
Field’s somber, clear-eyed Sonya has ardent desires but few illusions.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
Scottish murder trials were focuses of intense interest as well as somber legal proceedings.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for somber
Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2025
Expand All Sergio Pino’s attorney and family members appeared somber as they were relegated behind police tape along with reporters and TV crews on a muggy morning in Coral Gables as the FBI raided the prominent developer’s house on Tuesday.
—Tess Riski, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2025
Field’s somber, clear-eyed Sonya has ardent desires but few illusions.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
Scottish murder trials were focuses of intense interest as well as somber legal proceedings.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for somber
Recent Examples of Synonyms for somber
Adjective
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The noble profile of a solemn, aging Great Dane named Apollo dominates Scott McGehee and David Siegel’s The Friend, a movie nominally about the difficulties of caring for a pet in New York City.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
28 Mar. 2025
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Then, with his hopes of starting the season in the major leagues officially dashed, Hinch and his family began the solemn drive from Philly to the team’s Triple-A site in Scranton, Pa.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Store green tea products in an airtight container in a cool, dry, dark place.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Verywell Health,
4 Apr. 2025
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TikTok briefly went dark in the US and was pulled from app stores on Jan. 18.—
Chloe Albanesius,
PC Magazine,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The dynamic duo ditched their go-to pink and green for some fabulous funereal looks, mourning the impending end of the Ozian franchise.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
3 Apr. 2025
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The mood was more positive than funereal.—
Jerry McDonald,
The Mercury News,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Details are still murky with the plan yet to be formally presented to the all-powerful ICC board.—
Tristan Lavalette,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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The process, however, has been murky based on which military branch people are looking to return to, with only the Navy offering a solid idea of the decision.—
Ellen Mitchell,
The Hill,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This keeps us lonely at a time when the loneliness public health crisis is at an all-time high.—
Priya Vulchi,
Time,
9 Apr. 2025
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Ro, now a police officer, needs help investigating the death 22 years earlier of their classmate, Ricky, killed in a hit-and-run on a lonely county road.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Yet, whatever the deal means for Paul, Weiss, its acquiescence to Trump marks a sad day for the legal profession—or what once was a profession, and is now just another business.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2025
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Kwong grew up hearing stories of every kind about Manzanar—scary, sad, funny and infuriating.—
Rachel Ng,
Smithsonian Magazine,
27 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Somber.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/somber. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.
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