shadowy

adjective

shad·​owy ˈsha-dō-ē 

-də-wē

1

a

: of the nature of or resembling a shadow

b

: faintly perceptible : indistinct

2

: being in or obscured by shadow

deep shadowy interiors

3

a

: shady sense 1

b

: shady sense 3

shadowily

ˈsha-də-wə-lē 

adverb

shadowiness

ˈsha-də-wē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• blear
• bleary
• blurry
• dim
• faint
• foggy
• fuzzy
• gauzy
• hazy
• indefinite
• indistinct
• indistinguishable
• misty
• murky
• nebulous
• obscure
• opaque
• pale
• unclear
• undefined
• undetermined
• vague

Examples of shadowy in a Sentence

She was pursued by a shadowy figure.

He had only a shadowy idea of what they wanted him to do.

Recent Examples on the Web

In a follow-up interview, Rosenbaum recalled a possible shadowy figure approaching Lauren at the corner, fueling speculation that she may have been abducted. —Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 26 May 2024

But black holes also pull plenty of material into their vicinity, which is brilliant, allowing researchers to study the physics of these shadowy behemoths. —Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 23 May 2024

Even at 77, there are still dark chapters of human history and shadowy conspiracies Stone still needs to examine and untangle. —Brent Lang, Variety, 19 May 2024

While the themes and the shadowy R.M.F. character create a tenuous connection between the three stories, there doesn’t seem to be any necessity for the triptych structure. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 18 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

shadowy

adjective

shad·​owy ˈshad-ə-wē 

1

a

: not realistic

shadowy dreams of glory

b

: dim as a shadow

the shadowy area between good and bad

2

: full of shade

a shadowy lane