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

Curtis plays Violet Olvido, a journalist who begins investigating a string of killings linked to a shadowy international outsourcing company that recruits remote workers across the Philippines. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 June 2026

Remember, Venus has everything to do with love, beauty, pleasure, values and money, while Pluto governs obsession, control, transformation, intimacy and the shadowy corners of the psyche. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026

Trailing behind it was the shadowy form of a wolf. — Dolores Brown, Outdoor Life, 17 June 2026

Even with its less tense game style, the premise of D-topia revolves around a shadowy society run by AI that is working to ensure happiness for the greatest number of people. — Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 16 June 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