sobering
adjective
so·ber·ing
| \ ˈsō-b(ə-)riŋ
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Definition of sobering
: tending to make one thoughtful or sober
Examples of sobering in a Sentence
His death is a sobering reminder of the dangers of mountaineering.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Yellowhammer documents provide a sobering view of what Johnson’s plan could mean for Britain. — Hannah Knowles, Washington Post, "Leaked memo says Britain faces economic, social chaos if it goes through with a ‘no-deal Brexit’," 18 Aug. 2019 The Yellowhammer documents provide a sobering view of what Johnson’s plan could mean for Britain, describing delays across borders and new barriers to trade that would affect travelers, disrupt the flow of goods, and lead to unrest. — Hannah Knowles, BostonGlobe.com, "Leaked memo says Britain faces economic, social chaos if it goes through with a ‘no-deal Brexit’," 18 Aug. 2019 But the Astros can expect to have three top starters at their peak, a sobering thought for their opponents. — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, "The Astros Are Major League Baseball’s Happy Place," 16 Aug. 2019 The last-minute detection is yet another sign of how much still remains unknown about space and a sobering reminder of the very real threat asteroids can pose, Duffy said. — Allyson Chiu, Anchorage Daily News, "Scientists almost didn’t detect approach of ‘city-killer asteroid’," 27 July 2019 This summer has been a sobering reminder that athletic glory can be fleeting — even for the most decorated swimmer and overall athlete in Olympic history, Baltimore’s Michael Phelps. — Edward Lee, baltimoresun.com, "Michael Phelps is living his best life: 5 takeaways from NYT interview in Arizona," 20 Aug. 2019 But on the ground in Afghanistan, the news is far more sobering. — Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, "Talking in Qatar, bombing in Kabul. How to explain the Taliban?," 9 Aug. 2019 The last-minute detection is yet another sign of how much still remains unknown about space and a sobering reminder of the very real threat asteroids can pose, Duffy said. — Allyson Chiu, Anchorage Daily News, "Scientists almost didn’t detect approach of ‘city-killer asteroid’," 27 July 2019 The last-minute detection is yet another sign of how much still remains unknown about space and a sobering reminder of the very real threat asteroids can pose, Duffy said. — oregonlive.com, "Scientists almost didn’t detect approach of ‘city-killer asteroid’," 26 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sobering.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for sobering
sobering
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of sobering
: making you feel serious and thoughtful
See the full definition for sobering in the English Language Learners Dictionary