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DictionarysomberSerious or gloomy
adjective

somber

SAHM-ber/ˈsɑmbər/

Dark and subdued in tone.

An adult in a dark coat looks somber under the rainy sky.

Somber adult in dark coat sits quietly under gray rainy sky.
Etymology
somberFrenchdark, gloomy

French sombre supplies the image of darkness or gloom. English first applied the word to places and landscapes, then extended that shadowy quality to feelings and moods.

In context

ClassicistORG24:44
the mood was somber and pervaded by anxiety – what sociologists call ‘existential angst’.
How Architecture Evolved from the Baroque Period to Now: A Survey of Classical Architecture, Part IV

More examples

  • The room's somber colors make it feel smaller.
  • The music sets a somber mood for the ceremony.
  • Her voice grows somber as she shares the sad news.

Forms

somber · somberer · somberest

somberly adverb — In a serious, subdued, or gloomy manner.

somberness noun — The quality of being dark or subdued.

Similar words

gloomy
Suggests deeper darkness or a more openly unhappy mood.
subdued
Emphasizes restraint or softness without necessarily suggesting sadness.
solemn
Emphasizes dignified seriousness rather than darkness or muted color.