penumbra

noun

pə-ˈnəm-brə How to pronounce penumbra (audio)
Definition of penumbranext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of penumbra As the moon moves into Earth’s outer shadow, called the penumbra, the dimming is subtle. — Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 2 Mar. 2026 The Moon moves right to left, passing through the penumbra and umbra, leaving in its wake an eclipse diagram with the times at various stages of the eclipse. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Mar. 2026 During many eclipse seasons, the moon merely skims Earth's penumbra and umbra. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026 The partial outer shadow is called the penumbra; the full, dark shadow is the umbra. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for penumbra
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penumbra
  1. shadow
  2. veil
  3. shade
  4. shroud
  5. blackness
  6. cloak
  7. dusk
  8. pall
Noun
  • After crossing southern Spain, the moon’s shadow will race east across Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt before crossing the Red Sea into Saudi Arabia and Yemen, and continuing across Somalia and into the Indian Ocean.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Models stormed the runway with high-brow shadow, crafted by Dick Page, using bright greasepaints and theatrical colors.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of shadow
Noun
  • On Monday morning, however, a visible veil of grief and gloom took over the previous sheen.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
  • What unfolded in that rental home in July lifted the veil on a complicated plot involving human trafficking, abuse, drugs and prostitution, according to arrest reports.
    — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of veil
Noun
  • Commenters on both Babsky and Johnson's makeup artist Georgie Eisdel’s Instagram posts begged the artists to share shade details.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 8 Oct. 2026
  • At Dior, artist Ama Quashie mismatched red and burgundy on hands and feet using Dior Vernis in a deep oxblood 047 Nuit shade on nails and cherry 853 Rouge Trafalgar on toes.
    — Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of shade
Noun
  • With its magnetic shroud shoelace cover and dressy patent leather toe, the Air Jordan 16 was conceptualized in 2001 during an unusual period of Jordan’s legacy.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Scaffolding was being taken down Tuesday after workers over Labor Day weekend removed a shroud that had obscured the work.
    — Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of shroud
Noun
  • The Halifax surged forward into blackness, each second narrowing the distance between flight and catastrophe.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The surf was raging, completely enveloping the craft with only the swaying masts visible in the blackness of the night.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of blackness
Noun
  • Alleged violations included wearing colorful scarves or makeup, leaving hair visible or not wearing a chador, an all-enveloping cloak-like garment.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • This, Rostov’s main thoroughfare, wasn’t illuminated by the familiar bright glare of its many street lamps, or by light from its windows, now blacked out, but emerged from the darkness all the more gently in a milky cloak of moonlight.
    — Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of cloak
Noun
  • Effigies of Ravana—often along with those of Ravana’s son Meghanada (also known as Indrajit) and Ravana’s brother Kumbhakarna—are stuffed with firecrackers and set ablaze at dusk in open fields.
    — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Shawn and his father found the man on the easternmost coast of their island shortly after dusk, when the sky was drained of almost all its orange light and the waves had grown dark, topped with an eerie froth.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of dusk
Noun
  • The Republican candidate has been hobbling through the race, with lackluster fundraising and a long history of personal and legal scandals casting a pall over his candidacy.
    — Matthew Choi, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The play cast a pall over the rest of the game, but Oregon backup quarterback Dylan Raiola managed to throw for 289 yards and two touchdowns against USC’s defense.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of pall

Browse Nearby Words

penultimate
penumbra
penumbrae
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Cite this Entry

“Penumbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penumbra. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on penumbra

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about penumbra

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