sobering

1 of 2

adjective

so·​ber·​ing ˈsō-b(ə-)riŋ 

: tending to make one thoughtful or sober

sobering

2 of 2

present participle of sober entry 2

Examples of sobering in a Sentence

Adjective

His death is a sobering reminder of the dangers of mountaineering.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh shared several sobering injury updates Monday in the wake of Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. — Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

The costs of starting over Even with roots to work from, however, the arithmetic of recovery is sobering. — Ghada Abdulfattah, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Oct. 2026

That sobering milestone came during California Pedestrian Safety Month. — Karen E. Philbrick, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026

The first two episodes of the current season were about as dark and sobering as Slow Horses has gotten in its six-season run. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1816, in the meaning defined above