somber

[ som-ber ]

adjective

1. gloomily dark; shadowy; dimly lighted:

   a somber passageway.

   Synonyms: sunless, murky, dusky

   Antonyms: bright

2. dark and dull, as color, or as things in respect to color:

   a somber dress.

3. gloomy, depressing, or dismal:

   a somber mood.

   Synonyms: melancholy, doleful, mournful, lugubrious

   Antonyms: cheerful

4. extremely serious; grave:

   a somber expression on his face.

Other Words From

• somber·ly adverb
• somber·ness noun
• un·somber adjective
• un·somber·ly adverb
• un·somber·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of somber¹

First recorded in 1750–60; from French, Middle French sombre, probably noun derivative of sombrer (unrecorded) “to make shady,” from Vulgar Latin subumbrāre (unrecorded), from Latin sub- sub- + umbrāre “to cast a shadow” (derivative of umbra “shade, shadow”)

Example Sentences

World leaders swiftly weighed in, from enthusiastic congratulations to more somber and circumspect assurances of continuity in the relationship with Trump.

From Los Angeles Times

The cold open was a somber Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton singing “Hallelujah,” and the monologue and sketch that followed felt like perfectly pitched, smart responses to a shocking outcome.

From Los Angeles Times

World leaders swiftly weighed in, from enthusiastic congratulations to more somber and circumspect assurances of continuity in the relationship with Trump.

From Los Angeles Times

World leaders swiftly weighed in, from enthusiastic congratulations to more somber and circumspect assurances of continuity in the relationship with Trump.

From Los Angeles Times

World leaders swiftly weighed in, from enthusiastic congratulations to more somber and circumspect assurances of continuity in the relationship with Trump.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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