1
as in shadow
partial darkness due to the obstruction of light rays
the lunar eclipse began with a subtle darkening of the lunar surface as it passed within the Earth's penumbra
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in veil
something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth
a penumbra of despair fell over the doomed city
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penumbra
The entire eclipse spans 366 minutes (just over six hours), from the moon entering Earth’s penumbra to leaving it.
—
Jamie Carter, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
The eclipse begins with the penumbral phase, when the moon enters Earth's outer shadow, called the penumbra.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
The entire eclipse spans 366 minutes (just over six hours), from the moon entering Earth’s penumbra to leaving it.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
The big one is the penumbra, and the smaller one inside it is the umbra.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penumbra
Jamie Carter, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
The eclipse begins with the penumbral phase, when the moon enters Earth's outer shadow, called the penumbra.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
The entire eclipse spans 366 minutes (just over six hours), from the moon entering Earth’s penumbra to leaving it.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
The big one is the penumbra, and the smaller one inside it is the umbra.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penumbra
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penumbra
Noun
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Four years later, the Broncos worked in the relative shadows once again to add a dynamic secondary piece to pair with Surtain, the NFL’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
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While tech appears to be at the forefront of investors’ mind for now, tariffs and trade tensions still lurk in the shadows, with Intel CFO David Zinsner warning that tariffs and retaliation from other countries has increased the likelihood of a recession.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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But during the visit, Melania Trump mostly wore a grim face — along with a black dress and lace veil, in accordance with the dress code for a papal visit, according to media accounts at the time.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2025
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Typically, the pontiff’s body is placed in a casket made of three materials—cypress, lead, and walnut—and then covered with a silk veil before being sealed and transported under the basilica to the Vatican Grottoes, where the remains of almost all his predecessors rest.—
Paolo Armelli,
Vogue,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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More and more designers are offering wedding looks in colorful hues to provide options for those who don’t want to stick to one shade over the course of their celebrations.—
Shelby Wax,
Vogue,
28 Apr. 2025
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Fine details of fur and bark are clearly visible both in sunlight and under shade, with the mini-LED backlight keeping the sunny parts of the frame bright and the shadowy parts dark.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Cardinals from across the globe will soon gather under a shroud of secrecy at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City to decide who will lead the Catholic Church and guide 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
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The floors of the Indonesian Hospital in the city were covered in blood, with bodies wrapped in shrouds laying on the floor in hallways.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The text gets smaller and quieter in the next three panels, followed by three extraordinary solid panels of inky blackness.—
Art Spiegelman,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2025
-
In each image, a patch of purple with neon pink veins floats in the blackness of space, surrounded by flecks of light.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA TODAY,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The male figure wears a simple toga, while the woman wears a large cloak over a tunic and many accessories.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
2 Apr. 2025
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The white marble sculpture, which is missing a head and arms, appears to depict a woman's torso draped in a loose dress or cloak.—
Leah Sarnoff,
ABC News,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Some types of mosquitoes bite during the day, while others are more active at dusk and dawn.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
14 Apr. 2025
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The art can be viewed each evening at dusk through Wednesday.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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As tariffs cast a pall across business sectors including media, the streaming giant may be Wall Street‘s top stock pick to weather the macroeconomic storm.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2025
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The lack of certainty in the business environment for many companies was expected to cast a pall over some investment banking activities, including IPO listings and merger advice.—
Hugh Son,
CNBC,
11 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penumbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penumbra. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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