1
as in vague
not seen or understood clearly
the shadowy area between tough interrogation and torture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shady
protected from the sun's rays
a shadowy lane that is a mosaic of colors during the autumn foliage season
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shadowy
Several miles below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, scientists aboard a submersible scanned the shadowy seafloor for signs of life.
—
Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2025
Nearby, a couple walk between the shadowy wrecked buildings, arm-in-arm.
—Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 Jan. 2025
The film becomes further muddled, almost comically so, with the appearance of another looming, shadowy creature, a Demon that is shot a lot like Crow but is apparently different.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 26 Jan. 2025
The through-line were sounds that leaned toward the smoldering and idiosyncratic — from his use of achingly passionate songs of heartbreak by Roy Orbison and Chris Isaak to his own shadowy recordings with modern torch singers Julee Cruise and Chrystabell.
—Steve Appleford, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for shadowy 
Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2025
Nearby, a couple walk between the shadowy wrecked buildings, arm-in-arm.
—Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 Jan. 2025
The film becomes further muddled, almost comically so, with the appearance of another looming, shadowy creature, a Demon that is shot a lot like Crow but is apparently different.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 26 Jan. 2025
The through-line were sounds that leaned toward the smoldering and idiosyncratic — from his use of achingly passionate songs of heartbreak by Roy Orbison and Chris Isaak to his own shadowy recordings with modern torch singers Julee Cruise and Chrystabell.
—Steve Appleford, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for shadowy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shadowy
Adjective
-
Related Stories The film, however, bears no clear timeline, other than the vague notion of modernity.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Filmmakers work to an intentionally vague brief from Mrs. Muccia Prada: make a short film, using Miu Miu’s latest collection, that articulates a woman’s story.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
More and more people are seeing it as a chill, wellness thing rather than something shady or taboo.—
Matt Rozo,
The Mercury News,
4 Feb. 2025
-
If your yard is shady, for example, think ahead to find a plant that does not require full sun.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
That shadow isn’t perfect, so faint sunbeams sneak around the shadow’s edges on all sides in the colors of a sunset, bathing the moon in brilliant, warm hues.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Nominated for Best Actress for her performance in Wicked, Cynthia Erivo arrived in a white French tip manicure airbrushed with a faint, hazy green (and gold embellishments, of course).—
India Espy-Jones,
Essence,
8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Nominated for Best Actress for her performance in Wicked, Cynthia Erivo arrived in a white French tip manicure airbrushed with a faint, hazy green (and gold embellishments, of course).—
India Espy-Jones,
Essence,
8 Feb. 2025
-
The hazy, blasé Pharrell hook ups the sense that Kendrick is alone amid the Compton chaos.—
Stephen Kearse,
Vulture,
4 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near shadowy
Cite this Entry
“Shadowy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shadowy. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share