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Showing results for sobering.
Definitions

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.

The numbers get more sobering as one reads on.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Stratford’s assessment of where U.S.-China relations stand today is sobering.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Arsenal remain in a superb position in the Premier League and have the Champions League and FA Cup in their sights, but this was a sobering and disappointing day for the Gunners.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

It looked a pretty sobering weekend for McLaren to be so far off the pace after being the best car the last couple of years.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

It was sobering and yet they seemed bent upon pretending that nothing unusual had happened.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.