Synonyms

somber

American

[som-ber] / ˈsɒm bər /

especially British, sombre

adjective

gloomily dark; shadowy; dimly lighted.

a somber passageway.

Synonyms:

sunless, murky, dusky

Antonyms:

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

a somber dress.
gloomy, depressing, or dismal.

a somber mood.

Synonyms:

melancholy, doleful, mournful, lugubrious

Antonyms:

cheerful
extremely serious; grave.

a somber expression on his face.

Other Word Forms

somberly adverb
somberness noun
unsomber adjective
unsomberly adverb
unsomberness noun

Etymology

Origin of somber

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

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

In it, Rousseau acknowledged that it was a "somber day" for his organisation.

From BBC

A somber quiet fell over the woods, dampening the sound of the rushing river behind them.

From Literature

This week began on a somber note with the fatal accident at LaGuardia Airport Sunday night.

From The Wall Street Journal

In some instances he reutilizes his usual lively palette, and at others shifts into more somber tones.

From The Wall Street Journal

He glanced out the bright windows, then boomed, “Even the sunshine is somber today, brothers and sisters, when we see Miss Myrt Arbuckle on her final journey, as she swaps semesters for eternity.”

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023