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 of shadowy

• vague
• faint
• hazy

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

But studios cater to vastly different clientele, and some expose a more shadowy underbelly of the neighborhood with reputations of after-hours alcohol sales, smoking indoors and an anything-goes reputation. — Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026

Indeed, a consistent theme of Rogers’s campaign has been the implication that El-Sayed is a tool for shadowy forces originating in the East. — Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 2 Nov. 2026

And who exactly is that shadowy figure standing at the bottom of your bed? — Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2026

As a shadowy figure appeared behind a curtain, the actress widened her eyes in alarm, adding another playful nod to the movie's home invasion storyline. — Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026

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