1
as in straight
not having one's mind affected by alcohol
it's important to stay sober if you're going to be driving a car
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2
as in logical
based on sound reasoning or information
a sober assessment of the situation
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3
as in solemn
not joking or playful in mood or manner
a sober reply to what was only a teasing comment
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4
as in quiet
not excessively showy
if you don't have anything in black, at least wear a sober outfit to the funeral
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5
as in ascetic
given to or marked by restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites
cruise passengers of sober dispositions will be put off by the focus on nonstop dining
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sober
Paris Jackson has been sober for six years, but the daughter of the late Michael Jackson says life didn’t suddenly get better when the drugs stopped.
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Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Actor Tommy Lee Jones’ late daughter Victoria Kafka Jones was due in court later this month to respond to a plea deal that would have required her to get sober, according to a report.
—Theresa Braine, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Within hours, television networks and newspapers flooded the airwaves with split‑screens of Penn and El Chapo, treating the encounter as a mash‑up of Hollywood thriller and narco‑soap opera rather than a sober examination of cartel terror.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026
But Mitchell was sober about the odds.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sober
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sober
Adjective
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The straight-leg fit here is the ideal balance for anyone who doesn’t love baggy or wide-leg styles, and the ankle-grazing length lets your favorite winter boots take center stage.—
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Bryant held a 47-38 advantage after Camarion Bead's three-point play with just over five minutes to go in the third quarter, but Jonesboro charged back with six straight points to cut the gap to three.—
Adjective
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Harbaugh seemed like a logical candidate, but Miami’s hiring of Jon-Eric Sullivan as general manager — and not longtime Harbaugh colleague Chad Alexander — makes that fit less obvious.—
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Because those employees are in turn often availing themselves of Medi-Cal, Elhawary said, lawmakers see a logical path to taxing their employers in order to support the healthcare system at large.—
Adjective
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More than five hours after the crash, there was a solemn procession off of Route 146 led by Massachusetts State Police, followed by the medical examiner and fellow police officers.—
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That this is a serious matter—not slight at all—does not oblige the author of a seriously funny book to be solemn.—
Adjective
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The lightweight fabric is also quiet, so you won’t be awoken from crinkling material.—
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The family settled in a quiet residential street of older homes and multifamily buildings, some front porches festooned with pride flags still twinkling with holiday lights.—
Adjective
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Despite his limitations, Joe displayed an impressive degree of ascetic discipline and a ravenous desire for God.—
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The fantastical park resembles a theatre set, rife with spiritual allegory and modeled on an ascetic’s dream of utopia.—
Adjective
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Friday starts out warm and dry, possibly some early sunshine, and a chance to hit 60, depending on when showers arrive.—
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The video, narrated with dry sarcasm and visible exhaustion, quickly went viral.—
Adjective
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That said, reasonable preparation can help even those familiar with international payment systems avoid high fees, long waits and general confusion.—
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That’s understandable and reasonable, and fans have every right to express their fandom through frustration when teams don’t live up to expectations.—
Adjective
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The lawsuit names specific brands — including cereals, pizzas, sodas, and potato chips — linking them to serious health problems.—
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Kittle was carted off the field, indicating a serious injury, after he was tackled by safety Marcus Epps at the right sideline.—
Cite this Entry
“Sober.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sober. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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