1
as in imposing
having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner
the director of the funeral home has a fittingly solemn demeanor
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in serious
not joking or playful in mood or manner
solemn as a judge
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in somber
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
the Capitol's rotunda was draped in solemn decorations of a state funeral
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of solemn
Pope Leo decried conditions for Palestinians in Gaza in his Christmas sermon, in an unusually direct appeal during what is normally a solemn, spiritual service on the day Christians across the globe celebrate the birth of Jesus.
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Joshua McElwee, USA Today, 25 Dec. 2025
More solemn is the tradition of the Pan de Natale.
—Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 22 Dec. 2025
Unable to project solemn grief, conservatives went with spectacle and crass remarks.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 21 Dec. 2025
The funeral in Switzerland in 2019 was solemn.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for solemn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for solemn
Adjective
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The team had already excavated the other three corners of a narrow tomb occupied by an imposing, unnamed sarcophagus.—
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The most imposing building on Main Street is a gun shop called Chandler’s Firearms Estates, on the corner of East Church Street.—
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.—
Adjective
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With so many comedy writers on the bill, the Broder tribute was no somber affair.—
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As is tradition, all the women were dressed in black ensembles to mark the somber occasion, which commemorates members of the military from Britain and the Commonwealth who have died in battle.—
Adjective
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His mother’s dignified stoicism, her heroic ability to stomach pain and disappointment, and her crusade for a life of sacrifice and virtue, forever burn inside Nixon — but so does an insatiable desire to be loved and respected and the acrid taste of social rejection from an early age.—
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While so many aspects of air travel are out of your control, there are ways to make flying more comfortable, dignified, and even…fun.—
Adjective
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Several French and Italian citizens were among the dead, and Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for stern punishment to be meted out to those responsible for the blaze.—
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Continue reading … FLIP-FLOP – Reporter claims Harris privately joked about question before stern response.—
Adjective
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Her family later learned that on April 23, 2021 — the day Parker found his aunt in a bleak mood — Dee had an angry confrontation over financial issues with two employees of the trucking company.—
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Some of Tarr’s most memorable scenes feature landscapes, often bleak and despairing settings of decaying Hungarian towns, punctuated with close-ups of characters’ faces.—
Adjective
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The 37th Annual Producers Guild Awards to be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at the Fairmont Century Plaza, and will also include special honors celebrating distinguished producers whose careers reflect sustained excellence and influence.—
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Attorney, civil rights advocate and political commentator Bakari Sellers will be the event's distinguished speaker.—
Adjective
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The Abbott Elementary actor plays Sheriff Mark Mylow, a deeply earnest man who is dealing with a broken heart after school teacher Louisa Gavin (Abigail Spencer) ended their engagement.—
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The industry loves an inside-out moment, and embracing Disney’s most famous—and famously earnest —mascot offers an opportunity to imbue the 97-year-old cartoon rodent with some real edge.—
Cite this Entry
“Solemn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solemn. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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