1
as in imposing
having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner
the director of the funeral home has a fittingly solemn demeanor
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in serious
not joking or playful in mood or manner
solemn as a judge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in somber
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
the Capitol's rotunda was draped in solemn decorations of a state funeral
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of solemn
And their CEOs announced these promises with solemn rhetoric about their companies' roles in fixing societal problems.
—
Maria Aspan, NPR, 3 Feb. 2025
The Oscars were not scheduled until the following March, but the ceremony still took on a solemn tone.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2025
The little, low room was dimly lighted with oil-lamps, and the boys clumped about the stoves in their cowhide boots, and laughed and buzzed and ate apples and peanuts and giggled, and grew suddenly solemn when the grave men and women looked at them.
—Christopher Carroll, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
Meanwhile, Yang, who’s had a prolific few years, continues to showcase his more solemn side.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for solemn
Maria Aspan, NPR, 3 Feb. 2025
The Oscars were not scheduled until the following March, but the ceremony still took on a solemn tone.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2025
The little, low room was dimly lighted with oil-lamps, and the boys clumped about the stoves in their cowhide boots, and laughed and buzzed and ate apples and peanuts and giggled, and grew suddenly solemn when the grave men and women looked at them.
—Christopher Carroll, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
Meanwhile, Yang, who’s had a prolific few years, continues to showcase his more solemn side.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for solemn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for solemn
Adjective
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The far more imposing limit is MLS’s global standing.—
Jeff Rueter,
The Athletic,
8 Feb. 2025
-
And on the other hand, in a world where most of their top arms remain healthy and effective, the Dodgers could possess one of the most imposing starting pitching staffs in recent memory.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The Aggies are in a serious rough patch, however, having lost their last three games in a row.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
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In San Diego, many serious rosarians fertilize with a plethora of fertilizers every two weeks commencing in mid-February through to mid-October.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Following his release, Yarden was met by his sister and father in a somber reunion.—
Mohammed Tawfeeq,
CNN,
21 Feb. 2025
-
The image of Kurdi, dead and face down in the sand, soon became a somber meme—one that, for a while, helped garner widespread sympathy and financial support for refugees landing by the thousands on Greece’s shores.—
Lauren Markham,
Harper's Magazine,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Curio’s approach to waste fuel recycling was supported by Per Peterson, distinguished professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, who shared his thoughts with me in both emails and an interview.—
Jim Vinoski,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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Behold then the inspiration extravaganza that is the Kips Bay Decorator Show House Palm Beach, where over 30 rooms have been transformed through March 16 into set pieces by 23 distinguished designers and architects.—
Greg Carannante,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Once again, her stern words earned tepid applause from a crowd that honestly just wanted to go two hours without thinking about humanity's downward trajectory into civil, moral, and environmental oblivion.—
Kristen Baldwin,
EW.com,
24 Feb. 2025
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But Sunday’s election could mark its sternest test yet.—
Mark Sappenfield,
The Christian Science Monitor,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The picture looks bleak in the U.S. and in France the company is entering receivership.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
24 Feb. 2025
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The tiny graves at one end of the orphanage compound are a bleak reminder of what a future without USAID might look like for the children.—
Nicholas Komu,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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None of that should be a prerequisite for a dignified ending in this extremely rich country.—
Courtney E. Martin,
The Mercury News,
21 Feb. 2025
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As a result, Americans have very specific ideas about Lincoln as the serious, dignified and solemn figure preserved in statues, paintings, museums and history books.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
In the first, the scrappy Italian American reporter Nick falls for Andy, the earnest, hapless son of a press mogul.—
Olivia Waite,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2025
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But in the end, whether Bishop was ever earnest or was always running an elaborate con is beside the point for Dixon.—
David Peisner,
Rolling Stone,
23 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Solemn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solemn. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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