1
as in vague
not seen or understood clearly
the shadowy area between tough interrogation and torture
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of shadowy
After a spate of arson attacks targeting Jewish sites in London, British authorities are investigating a shadowy online group with possible ties to Iran.
—
Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026
The new picture also captures shadowy fractures and pits that hint at large volumes of water ice still buried beneath the surface, as well as numerous impact craters surrounded by the detritus of their own explosive formation.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2026
Colin Firth appears to lead a shadowy government entity tasked with keeping the existence of aliens secret.
—James Powel, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
On top of everything else pummeling consumers right now — spiking gas prices, soaring grocery bills, an uncertain job market — there’s a wild card lurking in a shadowy corner of corporate finance that could pile on even more pain.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shadowy
Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026
The new picture also captures shadowy fractures and pits that hint at large volumes of water ice still buried beneath the surface, as well as numerous impact craters surrounded by the detritus of their own explosive formation.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2026
Colin Firth appears to lead a shadowy government entity tasked with keeping the existence of aliens secret.
—James Powel, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
On top of everything else pummeling consumers right now — spiking gas prices, soaring grocery bills, an uncertain job market — there’s a wild card lurking in a shadowy corner of corporate finance that could pile on even more pain.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shadowy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shadowy
Adjective
-
The exact reasons are often left vague, and the successors to be determined, but people are leaving.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The exact reason remains vague, but some widespread cultural practice occurred across Central Europe.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The campsites are nestled in a shady valley about a half-mile walk from the ferry port.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Nancy Pelosi found a shady spot under a tree.—
James Reginato,
Vanity Fair,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The book portrays the city as a liminal metropolis where the line demarcating business and crime has been worn faint by heavy footfall from both directions.—
Mark O’Connell,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
That's a whopping 500-meter--wide (1,640-foot) dish, ideal for picking up faint signals from far away.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Trim back overgrown shrubs and mow regularly to reduce shaded, humid hiding spots.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Every seasoned gardener knows the particular satisfaction of coaxing beauty from unlikely places — a stubborn perennial that finally blooms, a shaded corner that transforms with the right groundcover.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The company’s theatrical ambitions are hazier despite its massive 2025 box office hit F1.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The smoke from the fire will likely reduce visibility, lead to hazy skies at times and lower air quality.—
Lissette Gonzalez,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shadowy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shadowy. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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