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
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Recent Examples of somber
The feeling inside the house is quiet and somber.
—
Kelsie Cairns,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Typical of Vandenberg weather, a marine layer of low clouds and fog added a somber look to the scene.
—
Robert Pearlman,
ArsTechnica,
17 June 2026
Its gritty military-leaning stories carried a somber post-9/11 feel that seemed appropriate for a fractured world needing a serious reality check.
—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
17 June 2026
During the memorial service, hundreds of students from Utumishi Girls Academy sang a somber hymn declaring that all shall be well.
—
ABC News,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for somber
Kelsie Cairns,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Typical of Vandenberg weather, a marine layer of low clouds and fog added a somber look to the scene.
—
Robert Pearlman,
ArsTechnica,
17 June 2026
Its gritty military-leaning stories carried a somber post-9/11 feel that seemed appropriate for a fractured world needing a serious reality check.
—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
17 June 2026
During the memorial service, hundreds of students from Utumishi Girls Academy sang a somber hymn declaring that all shall be well.
—
ABC News,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for somber
Recent Examples of Synonyms for somber
Adjective
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She’s talked up her push to convert darkened streetlights, many of them stripped of their copper wire, to solar power.
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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.
Adjective
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Houssem Aouar finally spied a gap in the Austrian defence and sent Mahrez through to score, sparking jubilation before Sasa Kalajdzic’s header confirmed a ridiculous ending to a game that was dramatic, bleak and then dramatic again.
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Kehoe pointed to the state’s bleak finances in a statement explaining his cuts on Tuesday.
Adjective
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The top-of-the-line chef’s kitchen sports metallic cabinetry paired with dark marble countertops and backsplashes.
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These include rolled or folded leaf blades, a dark or blue tinge to the foliage, or lingering footprints after walking on the lawn.
Adjective
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Ureña, a 22-year-old right-hander who has emerged as another potential ace, speaks of Soriano with a giddy amusement mixed with a solemn respect for how the starter has survived in the big leagues.
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Dozens of firefighters lined the street in a solemn salute to their fallen colleagues.
Adjective
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More than a year later, the origin of the document remains murky.
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By the time the game ended, Sasaki’s three-inning start seemed like a murky nightmare the Dodgers awoke from in a sweat.
Adjective
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What a depressing, disturbing waste, no matter the final verdict.
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After watching and enjoying the film, a somewhat depressing thought leaped into my mind.
Adjective
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Research from the University of Delaware’s Department of Women and Gender Studies found that body image concerns resulting from social pressures are linked to lower self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and disordered eating in young women.
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Research also suggests changes in brain chemistry involving neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine can cause depressive symptoms.
Adjective
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His lonely life away from friends Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) included sleeping under the stairs.
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Thrown into the thick of a ballet season, the dancer explained that there wasn’t time to be lonely.
Cite this Entry
“Somber.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/somber. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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