Somberly refers to a state or feeling of seriousness, gravity or melancholy. Providing variations in writing tools can help to convey the mood and tone of a piece effectively. Synonyms of somberly include words like gravely, mournfully, pensive, sadly, gloomily, dourly, solemnly, cheerlessly and seriously. Each word bears a slightly different shade of emotional weight and tone of expression. The most appropriate synonym can be chosen to fit the context, giving a profound impact on the reader. A writer must have a good command of synonyms when it comes to creative writing, journalism, literature, poetry, speeches or other forms of written communication.