sobering

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The performances in “The Audacity” are uniformly remarkable, with Mr. Galifianakis executing one of those sobering transformations that suggest Albert Brooks in “Drive,” or Robin Williams in “Insomnia” or even Jackie Gleason in “The Hustler.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

This was a sobering night for England and Tuchel.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

The words were a sobering declaration for any Fed chair, let alone one who until recently had spent his eight years avoiding public conflict with the president.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

New York City Comptroller Mark Levine called the negative outlook “a sobering wake-up call about the fiscal challenges ahead for us,” noting that it is the city’s first negative outlook since the Covid-19 crisis.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

It was sobering and yet they seemed bent upon pretending that nothing unusual had happened.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison