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

This choice entangles Iris with Geoff and his father, a kind of archivist for a shadowy secret society, and a hapless man. —John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026

After a spate of arson attacks targeting Jewish sites in London, British authorities are investigating a shadowy online group with possible ties to Iran. —Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026

The new picture also captures shadowy fractures and pits that hint at large volumes of water ice still buried beneath the surface, as well as numerous impact craters surrounded by the detritus of their own explosive formation. —Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2026

Colin Firth appears to lead a shadowy government entity tasked with keeping the existence of aliens secret. —James Powel, USA Today, 16 Apr. 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