sobering

[soh-ber-ing] / ˈsoʊ bər ɪŋ /

ADJECTIVE

serious

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dangerous deep difficult far-reaching grievous important major meaningful severe significant tough urgent

WEAK

arduous fateful fell formidable grave grim hard heavy laborious meaning business menacing momentous no joke no laughing matter of consequence operose out for blood playing hard ball pressing smoking strenuous strictly business threatening ugly unamusing unhumorous worrying

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm easy facile friendly insignificant little meaningless minor small trivial unimportant worthless

WEAK

flippant funny happy light unserious

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.

In the 250th year of the Declaration of Independence, this is a sobering state of affairs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

Still, “Time and Water” collapses the notion that we are somehow separate from these ancient, essential formations: an encouraging hello to the future from inside a sobering goodbye.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026

The causes are complex and the implications sobering.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

But beneath the enthusiasm lies a far more sobering reality.

From Barron's • May 22, 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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