somberness

Definition of sombernessnext

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 somberness There’s a crepuscular somberness, a feeling of looking back on the perfect day, knowing bliss won’t last forever. Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 17 Feb. 2026 No surprise, then, that this is a fairly respectful rendition, upping the spectacle but staying true to the somberness of Shelley’s cautionary tale. Tim Grierson, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for somberness
Noun
  • His gloominess seemed to make no sense.
    Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 25 Oct. 2025
  • While most of the central bank’s policymakers still see inflation as a bigger threat than the jobs market — whose weakening may be more driven by slower immigration than corporate gloominess — there’s little consensus on the path forward, according to the September minutes released Wednesday.
    Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • To fill the space, models are turning away from doomscrolling (there’s enough doom and gloom in the news right now) and toward novels.
    Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2026
  • In the meantime, rounds of rain, gloom and chilly temperatures are in the forecast.
    Cutter Martin, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The film's opening two minutes play out in complete blackness, a picture-less overture showcasing legendary James Bond composer John Barry's majestic score.
    Richard Edwards, Space.com, 8 Feb. 2026
  • With the streets in pitch blackness, some neighbors said their cameras don't capture much more than the immediate surroundings of their home.
    Clara Migoya, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • From its first painterly images, of the face of Meryl Streep, sad and tender and lovely in the semidarkness, the film declares its artistry, its sensitivity and its theme.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2023
  • She [Daria] looks at me and smiles in the semidarkness, a calm, shy smile, full of love.
    Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 3 Dec. 2021
Noun
  • But Chiat/Day considered their obscurity a feature, not a bug.
    CBS News, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
  • But high-ranking officials have offered statements dripping with obscurity.
    Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The murkiness of Acquisition Logistics’ involvement in El Paso is hardly an exception among many of the companies profiting from the border-security gold rush.
    Garrett M. Graff, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
  • There is a bit of murkiness on salaries for coaches of private schools like TCU, as USA Today’s amounts for private schools were based on schools’ most recently available financial records, which cover the 2023 calendar year.
    SportsDay Staff, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Somberness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/somberness. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster