1
as in shadows
a time or place of little or no light
strange noises were coming from the wooded umbra beyond our campfire
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shadow
partial darkness due to the obstruction of light rays
during a solar eclipse observers located within the umbra experience a complete blocking of the sun by the moon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of umbra
During the early morning hours, the full moon will gradually slip behind the darkest part of the Earth's shadow, or umbra, and take on a reddish hue.
—
John Tufts, IndyStar, 1 Mar. 2026
During this event, the entire moon passes through the Earth's umbra (the darkest part of its shadow), causing the moon to appear darkened or reddened.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 26 Feb. 2026
The umbra is the inner, darker shadow where full blocking of sunlight takes place.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
This is when the Moon enters the umbra, and the change becomes more noticeable.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for umbra
John Tufts, IndyStar, 1 Mar. 2026
During this event, the entire moon passes through the Earth's umbra (the darkest part of its shadow), causing the moon to appear darkened or reddened.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 26 Feb. 2026
The umbra is the inner, darker shadow where full blocking of sunlight takes place.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
This is when the Moon enters the umbra, and the change becomes more noticeable.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for umbra
Recent Examples of Synonyms for umbra
Noun
-
The Audacity creator Jonathan Glatzer and star Billy Magnussen, who plays wealthy tech CEO Duncan Park, took the stage at Deadline Contenders TV to talk about taking the tech monster lurking in the shadows and those responsible for its existence, and turning it into a comedy.—
Amanda Champagne-Meadows,
Deadline,
26 Apr. 2026
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Three generations of Nicolsons have grown strawberries on this roughly 9-acre patch of land along Route 66, nestled in the shadows of Southern California’s San Gabriel Mountains and tucked between a gas station, a golf course and a Walmart.—
Jonathan Bullington,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Observing tips The lunar disk is entirely bereft of shadows during the full moon phase, making this the perfect time to trace the outline of lunar maria — where lava flows filled colossal impact basins billions of years ago before hardening to form sweeping basaltic plains.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
1 May 2026
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The trip was judged a success despite the shadow of the king’s younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who has been stripped of his royal title of Prince Andrew, exiled from public life and put under police investigation over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Use landscape lighting to make a backyard usable after dark.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Celebrate by roaming the stacks after dark at this festival.—
Deputy Managing Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Lucchese had American alligator cowboy boots in a shade called black cherry for sale for $17,000.—
Marisa Meltzer,
Vanity Fair,
28 Apr. 2026
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The couple made their entrance — arm in arm — with Sonenshein in a tea-length, corseted gown and Vahle in a bespoke suit the shade of a Liguria olive.—
Kit Warchol,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Jupiter Jupiter, as darkness falls, will be roughly one-third up from the western horizon to the point directly overhead.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
-
This moment is a promise that the system can and will be transformed into a source of light, not darkness.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
An elevated public promenade overlooking the Intracoastal will be open from dawn to dusk.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
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How Animal Lovers Can Help For readers who have ever bottle-fed a baby animal, comforted a frightened pet or simply paused to watch a deer step out of the woods at dusk, Forest’s story is a familiar kind of heartbreak — and a familiar kind of hope.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Pastels, jet black, red, blue, and gray are colors designers recommend avoiding for garage doors.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
26 Apr. 2026
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Nobody else finished in the black.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In it, a crescent of Earth’s blue vitality hovers amid the blackness of space, above a high-definition brownish gray wasteland of lunar craters.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
22 Apr. 2026
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Together, these two superb artists make much of Yarris constantly seeking the light, as Yarris searches for a way forward from the blackness of death row.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Umbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/umbra. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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