sober

adjective

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so·ber | \ ˈsō-bər

soberer\ ˈsō-bər-ər

\; soberest\ ˈsō-b(ə-)rəst

Definition of sober

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : sparing in the use of food and drink : abstemious

b : not addicted to intoxicating drink

c : not drunk

2 : marked by sedate or gravely or earnestly thoughtful character or demeanor

3 : unhurried, calm

4 : marked by temperance, moderation, or seriousness a sober candlelight vigil

5 : subdued in tone or color

6 : showing no excessive or extreme qualities of fancy, emotion, or prejudice

sober

verb

sobered; sobering\ ˈsō-b(ə-)riŋ

Definition of sober (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to make sober

intransitive verb

: to become sober —usually used with up

Other Words from sober Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about sober

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Synonyms & Antonyms for sober

Synonyms: Adjective

Antonyms: Adjective

blasted
[slang],
blind,
blitzed
[slang],
blotto
[slang],
bombed,
boozy,
canned
[slang],
cockeyed,
crocked,
drunk,
drunken,
fried,
gassed,
hammered
[slang],
high,
inebriate,
inebriated,
intoxicated,
juiced
[slang],
lit,
lit up,
loaded
[slang],
looped,
oiled
[slang],
pickled,
pie-eyed,
plastered,
potted
[slang],
ripped
[slang],
sloshed
[slang],
smashed
[slang],
sottish,
soused,
sozzled,
squiffed
(or squiffy),
stewed,
stiff,
stinking
[slang],
stoned,
tanked
[slang],
tight,
tipsy,
wasted
[slang],
wiped out
[slang]

Choose the Right Synonym for sober

Adjective

serious, grave, solemn, sedate, staid, sober, earnest mean not light or frivolous. serious implies a concern for what really matters. a serious play about social injustice grave implies both seriousness and dignity in expression or attitude. read the proclamation in a grave voice solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity. a sad and solemn occasion sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness. remained sedate amid the commotion staid suggests a settled, accustomed sedateness and prim self-restraint. a quiet and staid community sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity. a sober look at the state of our schools earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose. an earnest reformer

Examples of sober in a Sentence

Adjective I'm driving, so I have to stay sober tonight. He is a sober, hardworking farmer. The story is a sober look at drug abuse. Illness is a sober reminder of our mortality. The article is a sober reflection on the state of our nation. Verb He returned home from the war, saddened and sobered by his experiences.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective With the love of his family behind him, Dillon turned it all around — and now, he's been sober for over two years. — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "‘American Idol’ Contestant Dillon James on Overcoming His Struggles With Addiction," 19 Apr. 2020 Erin Lee Carr, director of How to Fix a Drug Scandal, says that Farak is sober now. — Gina Vaynshteyn, refinery29.com, "Where Is Sonja Farak From How To Fix A Drug Scandal Now?," 2 Apr. 2020 On this side of the Pond, her sober and steady voice was drowned out by a cataract of fear and recrimination that has sullied America’s national life during the coronavirus pandemic. — Joseph Loconte, National Review, "The Queen’s Speech," 7 Apr. 2020 The job of city comptroller — essentially, Milwaukee's chief financial officer — calls for someone who is both sober and financially astute. — Daniel Bice, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Bice: Candidate for city's top finance post says he is on 'comeback' from bankruptcy and OWI," 17 Feb. 2020 Newsletter Sign-up This sober and meticulous book generates all the sorrow and horror, despair and indignation one expects from such histories. — David Margolick, WSJ, "‘Mengele’ Review: The Demon Doctor of Auschwitz," 24 Jan. 2020 House Republicans came to the Judiciary hearing prepared for a fight, putting up several motions intended to delay the proceedings and create chaos in an efforts Democrats wanted to portray as a sober and solemn event. — Anchorage Daily News, "White House gears up for aggressive effort to defend Trump in the Senate as House moves toward impeachment vote," 5 Dec. 2019 So listen carefully to your lover, and save discussions about relationship problems for times when the two of you are most attentive: when you are rested, sober and undistracted. — David Z. Hambrick, Scientific American, "How Research on Working Memory Can Improve Your Romantic Relationship," 5 Nov. 2019 Many sober and sane people have experienced these apparitions. — Verna Gates, al, "8 spooky stories about Birmingham’s haunted past," 14 Oct. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The scene is sobering to watch, particularly for fans used to seeing Beyoncé put together. — Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, "Beyoncé’s Best-Ever Acting Performance Is Now On Netflix," 9 Apr. 2020 Sports, our great escape, has become our sobering reality. — Christine Brennan, USA TODAY, "Opinion: Shuttering sports shows us how the coronavirus crisis should be handled," 12 Mar. 2020 For others,sobering images provide a window into what has been lost, from caskets being laid into a field on New York City’s Hart Island to white body bags in a vacant room at Detroit’s Sinai-Grace Hospital. — Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, "America has suffered great loss before. Here's how we may learn to cope with coronavirus death toll.," 18 Apr. 2020 Trump backed off the Easter date, in part in reaction to sobering estimates from the government’s experts that even in a best case, 100,000 people or more may die in the epidemic. — Nr Editors, National Review, "The Week," 2 Apr. 2020 Hours after Fauci’s sobering assessment, President Trump extended the voluntary national shutdown for a month. — Michael R. Sisak, BostonGlobe.com, "Up to 200K US deaths foreseen as more cities stricken," 29 Mar. 2020 Merkel's comments fit a pattern of government officials using sobering warnings to try to get people to protect themselves, most notably by washing their hands and not gathering in large numbers. — Nicole Winfield, Colleen Barry, John Leicester, Anchorage Daily News, "World Health Organization declares the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic," 11 Mar. 2020 Merkel’s comments fit a pattern of government officials using sobering warnings to try to get people to protect themselves, most notably by washing their hands and not gathering in large numbers. — Colleen Barry, Fortune, "Coronavirus outbreak is now a pandemic, according to the WHO," 11 Mar. 2020 Those who think the ferocity of today’s partisanship is unprecedented would find the record of history sobering. — Edward Achorn, Time, "Abraham Lincoln Healed a Divided Nation. We Should Heed His Words Today.," 16 Feb. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sober.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.