somber
5 antonyms for somber — opposites grouped by meaning.
Adjective — Serious, gloomy and without cheerfulness, in a way that suits grief or bad news.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adjective
Serious, gloomy and without cheerfulness, in a way that suits grief or bad news.
“The mood in the room turned somber once the results came through.”
Opposites
Antonyms
How to use somber
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
somber mood
somber tone
somber colours
strike a somber note
Slightly literary but common in journalism.
Etymology
From French 'sombre', meaning dark or gloomy, ultimately from Latin 'sub umbra', 'under shade'.
Full origin of somber →Frequently asked questions
Is it somber or sombre?
Both spellings are standard for the same word: 'somber' in American English and 'sombre' in British and most Commonwealth English. The pronunciation is identical.
What is the difference between somber and solemn?
Solemn describes weight and formality, and can be entirely positive, as at a wedding or a ceremony. Somber adds gloom: a somber occasion is not just serious but sad or heavy.
