somber

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈsɑmbɜr/

📖 Definitions

  1. adjective
    Dark, gloomy, or dull in color or appearance.; Serious, grave, or solemn in mood or character; marked by deep sadness or melancholy.; Causing or suggestive of sadness or gloom; depressing.

🔗 Details

Word forms

Comparative: somberer, more somber Superlative: somberest, most somber

Collocations

somber moodsomber tonesomber occasionsomber expressionsomber atmospheresomber reminder

Derivatives

somberlysomberness

Synonyms

gloomygrimsolemngravedarkseriousmelancholy

Antonyms

cheerfulbrightlightheartedjoyful

Commonly confused

sombre
EN: 'Sombre' is simply the British English spelling of the same word 'somber'; there is no difference in meaning.

Spelling tips

EN: American English uses 'somber' while British English uses 'sombre'; neither is incorrect, but be consistent within a document.

💬 Examples

  1. The somber sky threatened rain all afternoon.

  2. The funeral was a somber occasion for the entire family.

  3. The report painted a somber picture of the economy's future.