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Sober vs Sobering - What's the difference?

sober | sobering |

As adjectives the difference between sober and sobering

is that sober is not drunk; not intoxicated while sobering is causing more sober thought or concern.

As verbs the difference between sober and sobering

is that sober is (often with up) To make or become sober while sobering is present participle of lang=en.

sober

English

Adjective

(er)
  • not drunk; not intoxicated
  • not given to excessive drinking of alcohol
  • * Book of Common Prayer
    • a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of Thy holy name
  • moderate; realistic; serious; not playful; not passionate; cool; self-controlled
  • * Dryden
    • No sober man would put himself into danger for the applause of escaping without breaking his neck.
  • * 2005 , .
    • Which is the finest and soberest state possible.
  • dull; not bright or colorful
  • * Milton
    • Twilight grey / Had in her sober livery all things clad.
  • subdued; solemn; grave
  • * Prior
    • What parts gay France from sober Spain?
  • * Alexander Pope
    • See her sober over a sampler, or gay over a jointed baby.

    Synonyms

    * See also * See also * See also

    Antonyms

    * (not drunk) drunk

    Related terms

    * sobriety * sober as a judge

    See also

    * teetotaller

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (often with up ) To make or become sober.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, / And drinking largely sobers us again.
  • (often with up ) To overcome or lose a state of intoxication.
    • ''It took him hours to sober up .

    Anagrams

    * ----

    sobering

    English

    Adjective

    (head)
  • Causing more sober thought or concern.
    • It was a sobering thought that I had almost killed myself. That was something I wouldn't soon do on purpose again.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=October 29 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Chelsea 3 - 5 Arsenal , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=For Chelsea coach Andre Villas-Boas, this was his most sobering moment in the Premier League and he looked stunned on the sidelines at the regularity with which Chelsea's defence was exposed.}}

    Verb

    (head)