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
b
Synonyms
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
This seemed to be an ideal opportunity: Iran, for the first time from its own territory, brazenly attacked Israel without just relying on shadowy terrorists or other proxies.
—
Yossi Melman and Dan Raviv, TIME, 15 Apr. 2024
Manipulating everything is Denzel Washington’s shadowy operator.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024
No hidden saboteur or shadowy agent of darkness caused this tragedy, just fallible electricity, a technology that sometimes breaks.
—Brian Klaas, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
Send any news, comments, shadowy flights, and wholesome VR headset uses to talk@qz.com.
—Susan Howson, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024
Theoretically, opener Miss Grit was the antithesis of the Last Dinner Party’s baroque stylings, with Margaret Sohn performing Grit’s alternative and electronic rock songs solo under intentionally shadowy lighting.
—Journal Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2024
The authority initially threatened to restrict runners to the bridge’s shadowy lower deck during the 26.2-mile race in November.
—Dana Rubinstein, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Surveillance camera footage from a bar across the street from where she was found showed the shadowy outline of someone getting out of a light-colored sedan and dragging the body into the street before driving away.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
The report traced scads of transactions through a shadowy web of financial accounts all allegedly under Özer’s control.
—Leif Wenar, WIRED, 2 Apr. 2024
Yossi Melman and Dan Raviv, TIME, 15 Apr. 2024
Manipulating everything is Denzel Washington’s shadowy operator.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024
No hidden saboteur or shadowy agent of darkness caused this tragedy, just fallible electricity, a technology that sometimes breaks.
—Brian Klaas, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
Send any news, comments, shadowy flights, and wholesome VR headset uses to talk@qz.com.
—Susan Howson, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024
Theoretically, opener Miss Grit was the antithesis of the Last Dinner Party’s baroque stylings, with Margaret Sohn performing Grit’s alternative and electronic rock songs solo under intentionally shadowy lighting.
—Journal Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2024
The authority initially threatened to restrict runners to the bridge’s shadowy lower deck during the 26.2-mile race in November.
—Dana Rubinstein, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Surveillance camera footage from a bar across the street from where she was found showed the shadowy outline of someone getting out of a light-colored sedan and dragging the body into the street before driving away.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
The report traced scads of transactions through a shadowy web of financial accounts all allegedly under Özer’s control.
—Leif Wenar, WIRED, 2 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shadowy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near shadowy
Cite this Entry
“Shadowy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shadowy. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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