somber

[som-ber] / ˈsɒm bər /

ADJECTIVE

sad, depressing

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bleak dark dull earnest funereal gloomy grim melancholy mournful sedate serious sober solemn weighty

WEAK

black blue caliginous cloudy depressive dim dingy dire dismal dispiriting doleful down drab dragged dreary dusky grave hurting joyless lugubrious murky no-nonsense obscure sepulchral shadowy shady sourpuss staid tenebrous

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bright cheerful encouraging excited flippant funny happy hopeful joyful light lively luminous sunny trivial unimportant unserious vivacious

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.

More somber is Robin’s solo about the mirage of happiness.

From The Wall Street Journal

Late as usual, he dashes to check in for work and is shocked to stumble into a somber funeral.

From Los Angeles Times

"This is a somber moment for America. We should let the judicial system do its job without interference."

From Salon

But the comic mode works, not only because of a few more somber beats but because Strand wrings humor from personality.

From Washington Post

Donald Trump’s indictment in New York on Thursday is a somber watershed in U.S. history.

From Washington Post