sober vs steady

sober

adj
  • Dull; not bright or colorful. 

  • Poor; feeble. 

  • Not given to excessive drinking of alcohol. 

  • Moderate; realistic; serious; not playful; not passionate; cool; self-controlled. 

  • Not under the influence of any recreational drug. 

  • Not drunk; not intoxicated. 

  • Given to excessive drinking of alcohol, but having made a conscious decision to abstain from it. 

  • Subdued; solemn; grave. 

verb
  • To make or become sober. 

  • To moderate one's feelings. 

  • To overcome or lose a state of intoxication. 

steady

adj
  • Smooth and not bumpy or with obstructions. 

  • Regular and even. 

  • Constant in feeling, purpose, or pursuit; not fickle, changeable, or wavering; not easily moved or persuaded to alter a purpose; resolute. 

  • Firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm. 

  • Slow. 

verb
  • To become stable. 

  • To stabilize; to prevent from shaking. 

adv
  • To row with pressure at a low stroke-rating, often 18 strokes per minute. 

particle
  • Aspect marker indicating consistency or intensity. 

noun
  • A rest or support, as for the hand, a tool, or a piece of work. 

  • A regular boyfriend or girlfriend. 

  • A prostitute's regular customer. 

How often have the words sober and steady occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )