sombre
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- dark, dim, drab, dull, gloomy, sober
- gloomy, dismal, doleful, grave, joyless, lugubrious, mournful, sad, sober

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English Thesaurus: serious, solemn, grave, sombre, earnest, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

som‧bre British English, somber American English /ˈsɒmbə $ ˈsɑːmbər/ adjective
[Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: sombre, probably from Latin sub 'under' + umbra 'shade, shadow']

1. sad and serious Synonym : grave:
They sat in sombre silence.
We were all in a somber mood that night.
a sombre expression
on the sombre occasion of his mother’s funeral

2. dark and without any bright colours:
a sombre grey suit
—sombrely adverb
—sombreness noun [uncountable]

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

sombre
adj.
VERBS be, look, seem Everyone looked very sombre.
become, grow His eyes grew sombre.
remain The mood in Parliament remained sombre.
ADV. very | fairly, rather, somewhat She was in a somewhat sombre mood.
suitably The funeral cortege passed, to suitably sombre music.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

serious not joking or laughing, or not pretending:
His voice sounded serious.
They seem to be serious about their relationship.
solemn very serious because of an important or sad occasion or ceremony:
My father looked solemn, the way grown-ups look at funerals.
The judge read the verdict in a solemn voice.
grave written quiet and very serious – used especially about the way people look when something important or worrying happens:
She consulted Doctor Staples and returned looking grave.
He listened with a grave expression on his face.
sombre British English (also somber American English) /ˈsɒmbə $ ˈsɑːmbər/ written sad, quiet, or serious because something unpleasant or worrying has happened or is going to happen:
They sat in sombre silence.
The meeting began in a sombre mood.
earnest very serious and sincere – often used about someone who is young and not very experienced:
He was a rather earnest-looking young man.
‘That’s wrong,’ she said, her voice sounding very earnest.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

serious very bad – used about problems, accidents, illnesses, or crimes:
Violent crime is a serious problem in and around the capital.
The boy was taken to hospital with serious head injuries.
Fortunately, the damage to the car was not serious.
severe very serious – used about problems, injuries, and illnesses:
He suffered severe injuries in a car crash.
The problem became so severe that they had to bring water in from other countries.
severe epilepsy
grave used about a situation that is very serious and worrying, especially because it is dangerous or seems likely to get worse:
A thick fog descended and I knew that we were in grave danger.
The situation is grave – war now seems inevitable.
acute used about an illness, problem, or situation that has become very serious or dangerous, and needs to be dealt with quickly:
She was taken to the hospital suffering from acute appendicitis.
In San Diego, the shortage of skilled workers is acute.
desperate used about a situation or problem that is very serious or dangerous, especially because a lot of people need urgent help:
The situation is desperate – people here need aid before the harsh winter sets in.
The hospital is full of people in desperate need of medical attention.
critical used about a situation that is very serious and dangerous and might get worse suddenly:
In 1991, the food supply situation became critical.
Eight people were killed and four are still in a critical condition.
life-threatening used about a situation, illness, or condition in which someone could die:
Her child had a potentially life-threatening illness.
The situation was not life-threatening, but it was very worrying.
be a matter of life and death spoken to be extremely serious – used when a situation is very urgent or important:
For people living with HIV, getting the right treatment is literally a matter of life and death.
solemn very serious because of an important or sad occasion or ceremony:
My father looked solemn, the way grown-ups look at funerals.
The judge read the verdict in a solemn voice.
sombre British English (also somber American English) /ˈsɒmbə $ ˈsɑːmbər/ written sad, quiet, or serious because something unpleasant or worrying has happened or is going to happen:
They sat in sombre silence.
The meeting began in a sombre mood.
earnest very serious and sincere – often used about someone who is young and not very experienced:
He was a rather earnest-looking young man.
‘That’s wrong,’ she said, her voice sounding very earnest.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲