shadowy

1 of 2

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

shadowiness

2 of 2

noun

shad·​ow·​i·​ness -dəw|ēnə̇s 

-dō|, 

|in-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being shadowy

the shadowiness of night

that shadowiness … you find in people whose lives are part of the social organism

—W. S. Maugham

Synonyms of shadowy

Adjective

• vague
• faint
• hazy

Examples of shadowy in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

Some people see swamps as sloughs of despond; dark, miasmic places filled with creepy, shadowy creatures. — Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 25 July 2026

Set in the modern Scottish Highlands, Laird is an epic family saga in which a proud Scot defies a shadowy American billionaire hellbent on buying up the glens. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 22 July 2026

Police released the video in hopes the public could identify the visitor, but the shadowy image failed to produce the break detectives needed. — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026

The idea is absurd but paired with Armand’s shadowy Budapest group and Fareed’s research, this revelation expands Interview with the Vampire’s world even more. — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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