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
Yarden Bibas’ reunion with his sister Ofri and father Eli was decidedly more somber.
—
Mick Krever, CNN, 1 Feb. 2025
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, just sworn in earlier this week, said at a somber news conference at the airport early Thursday that his agency would provide all possible resources to the investigation.
—Lolita C. Baldor, TIME, 30 Jan. 2025
Holocaust tourism has also spawned unrelentingly somber books.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2025
This week marks a somber chapter in our nation's ongoing journey toward justice and equity.
—Paulette Granberry Russell, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for somber 
Mick Krever, CNN, 1 Feb. 2025
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, just sworn in earlier this week, said at a somber news conference at the airport early Thursday that his agency would provide all possible resources to the investigation.
—Lolita C. Baldor, TIME, 30 Jan. 2025
Holocaust tourism has also spawned unrelentingly somber books.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2025
This week marks a somber chapter in our nation's ongoing journey toward justice and equity.
—Paulette Granberry Russell, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for somber
Recent Examples of Synonyms for somber
Adjective
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And their CEOs announced these promises with solemn rhetoric about their companies' roles in fixing societal problems.—
Maria Aspan,
NPR,
3 Feb. 2025
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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
Adjective
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From Walgreens and Red Lobster to Big Lots and Family Dollar, hundreds of retail locations went dark as part of an ongoing, years-long trend oft attributed to the ongoing economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the prevalence of online shopping.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA TODAY,
15 Feb. 2025
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Without robust funding, some labs will simply go dark.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But if the incoming first lady and her stepdaughter were not wearing black, the ensembles donned by daughter Tiffany Trump, daughter-in-law Lara Trump and granddaughter Kai Trump also appeared to be somber, even funereal looking.—
Martha Ross,
The Mercury News,
20 Jan. 2025
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Last Friday, a sullen Antonio Conte appeared in a funereal black hoodie for his weekly press conference.—
James Horncastle,
The Athletic,
10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But details around the torrenting were murky until yesterday, when Meta's unredacted emails were made public for the first time.—
Ashley Belanger,
Ars Technica,
6 Feb. 2025
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Musk—now a trusted ally and adviser to President Donald Trump—has vehemently denied that Starlink is being sold to Russia, although its usage by Russia in Ukraine was murky.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But for people who are older and severely lonely, having an appointment to see their doctor might be their only social interaction that day.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
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In a recent Harvard University study, every fifth American reported feeling lonely, and that number is even higher among young adults and seniors.—
John Hewko,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Possibly chatting with his new security detail., which reportedly is a sad reality.—
Mac Engel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Feb. 2025
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Myriad other parties this week included soirees hosted by GQ, which may or may not still publish a magazine, and Sports Illustrated, which cut its once-stellar staff to the bone and became a sad shell of its former self but evidently can still afford to throw a Super Bowl party.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
7 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near somber
Cite this Entry
“Somber.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/somber. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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