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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of somber
On Wednesday, hundreds prayed, wept and held one another at a prayer service, among the first of many somber gatherings to come in the weeks ahead.
—
Nadia Lathan, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
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
Live 00:00 06:12 06:12 Officials give timeline of response efforts as floods impacted Texas
06:12
Kerrville Police Community Services Officer Chief Jonathan Lamb painted a somber picture of how the morning of July 4 unfolded as floods took over Hunt, when most residents were asleep.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 10 July 2025
The somber towering walls of the DPRK embassy in Beijing reflect this nostalgia where they are punctuated at one juncture by a small photographic exhibit behind a glass case.
—Saleem H. Ali, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for somber
Nadia Lathan, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
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
Live 00:00 06:12 06:12 Officials give timeline of response efforts as floods impacted Texas
06:12
Kerrville Police Community Services Officer Chief Jonathan Lamb painted a somber picture of how the morning of July 4 unfolded as floods took over Hunt, when most residents were asleep.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 10 July 2025
The somber towering walls of the DPRK embassy in Beijing reflect this nostalgia where they are punctuated at one juncture by a small photographic exhibit behind a glass case.
—Saleem H. Ali, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for somber
Recent Examples of Synonyms for somber
Adjective
-
The moment was filled with conflicting emotions, a mix of gratitude and solemn reflection.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
15 July 2025
-
The eventual confirmation of his passing, delivered by solemn White House and medical officials, triggered an outpouring of condolences from across the political spectrum, even from those who had been his staunchest opponents.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 July 2025
Adjective
-
Transformed into a swan by the evil sorcerer Rothbart, Odette and Siegfried's love faces an impossible battle against dark forces.—
Maggie Menderski,
The Courier-Journal,
22 July 2025
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Marvel tried to repeat this in May with Thunderbolts* which had a similarly dark theme.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
Joya had been allowed to pull the flouncy bit off her shoulders, like the singers in ABBA, but since my mother told me to keep covered, the top surrounded me sadly like a funereal wreath.—
Jhumpa Lahiri,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
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The Jansson rift is captured in her Family painting, a stark portrait of her father and younger brother Per Olov in their military outfits, with the artist in funereal attire brooding over Per Olov’s chess game with youngest brother Lars.—
Patrick Sauer,
Smithsonian Magazine,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
Anton and his second wife adopted Jean sometime during the Depression, but the details are murky.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
-
While the Celtics have made a couple of small additions, the future is still a bit murky.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 July 2025
Adjective
-
But men and women who are flying solo—without a spouse—typically report their lives to be less meaningful and more lonely.—
Brad Wilcox,
The Atlantic,
29 July 2025
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The series is handsomely composed — NFL Films knows how to capture sunlight slanting through shoulder pads and the lonely geometry of empty stadiums.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 July 2025
Adjective
-
The sad reality is that Lucky really hasn't had all that much luck in his life to date.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 July 2025
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These people have gone through hell, and so checking in sometimes is just equally as sad and devastating.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Somber.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/somber. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
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