- present participle of sober.
sobering
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But the outside help also highlighted a sobering reality: The government’s inability to deal with the tragedy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026
Environment Minister Murray Watt said the seal deaths were "sobering" and showed Australia must not be complacent in preparing for the strain possibly making it to the mainland.
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026
Some retail investors, like this videogame aficionado, made a killing, but there are reasons to take a sobering look at AI.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 16, 2026
In the 250th year of the Declaration of Independence, this is a sobering state of affairs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
It was sobering and yet they seemed bent upon pretending that nothing unusual had happened.
From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison
Vocabulary lists containing sobering
Song of Solomon
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You Call This Democracy?
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I Must Betray You
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