sombre

/ ˈsɒmbrəs, ˈsɒmbə /

adjective

1. dismal; melancholy

   a sombre mood

2. dim, gloomy, or shadowy

3. (of colour, clothes, etc) sober, dull, or dark

Other Word Forms

• sombreness noun
• sombrous adjective
• sombrely adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sombre¹

C18: from French, from Vulgar Latin subumbrāre (unattested) to shade, from Latin sub beneath + umbra shade

Example Sentences

The growing strain on the island had produced plenty of eye-rolls and grumbles, but this month events took a sombre turn.

Read more on BBC

Instead, the Rangers head coach was was short, snippy and sombre.

Read more on BBC

Despite a bruising day all round, Vasseur said the mood was not sombre.

Read more on BBC

But on 26 July he surprised them with a sombre one.

Read more on BBC

They shuffled through the gates on the fourth day decidedly more sombre, with the sobering reality there was still 69 runs to get.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• boring 
• flat 
• ho-hum 
• muted 
• uninspired