sombre

/ ˈsɒmbrəs; ˈsɒmbə /

adjective

1. dismal; melancholy

   a sombre mood

2. dim, gloomy, or shadowy
3. (of colour, clothes, etc) sober, dull, or dark

Derived Forms

• ˈsombreness, noun
• sombrous, adjective
• ˈsombrely, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sombre¹

C18: from French, from Vulgar Latin subumbrāre (unattested) to shade, from Latin sub beneath + umbra shade

Example Sentences

It was sombre and restrained, yet powerfully emotional.

From BBC

The sombre mood outside the CasaSur Hotel reflects the grim nature of the news that has been emerging over the last 24 hours.

From BBC

This summer Rami and Simon also took on the sombre task of digging graves for Be'eri's dead, who are only just being moved back to the kibbutz from cemeteries elsewhere in Israel.

From BBC

Senior coroner Julie Goulding said the hearing was a “short, sombre and formal process” to allow criminal proceedings to continue "unfettered".

From BBC

The speech, delivered to a hushed crowd, struck in parts a sombre tone and only once mentioned the name of his rival, President Joe Biden.

From BBC

Related Words

• boring
• flat
• ho-hum
• muted
• uninspired