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

Everyone's eyes were trained on the floor in sombre reflection after Mitchell Johnson and Australia had their way with us for two months.

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Some clothing stores in shopping malls and wholesale vendors have switched their stock to sombre hues, seeking to capitalise on the nation's grief.

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

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

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

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Related Words

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