penumbral

adjective

as in darkened

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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 penumbral The eclipse will be penumbral, and may be difficult to notice. — Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 27 Aug. 2026 The outer penumbral cone casts a soft, wide shadow, while the inner umbra reveals the distinct curve of Earth's silhouette. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026 First, the moon enters the faint outer shadow of the Earth, or the penumbra, where dimming is subtle; this is the penumbral eclipse. — Stefanie Waldek, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Mar. 2026 The penumbral shadow is the outer, lighter portion, which only partially blocks sunlight. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 19 Feb. 2026 The penumbral shadow is the outer, lighter shadow where only a partial blocking of sunlight occurs. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penumbral
  1. darkened
  2. dusky
  3. moonless
  4. obscured
  5. darkish
  6. darkling
  7. obscure
  8. pitch-dark
Adjective
  • Around them stand darkened houses, and uncollected trash piles up on the street.
    — Will Freeman, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2026
  • This trend has been pretty pervasive among designer bags recently, with shoppers buying new Prada and Chanel bags with darkened leather to give them a used look, or sourcing vintage Celine bags with obvious signs of wear.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 2 July 2026
Definition of darkened
Adjective
  • But its dusky cloud belts and Red Spot can be seen more clearly when the planet is highest in the southeast soon after dawn breaks.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Pittol’s arepas feature a crisp, mottled surface and a dusky plum hue.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of dusky
Adjective
  • Just hours after the eclipse ends, the annual Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak beneath almost perfectly moonless skies.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Then, just hours later, the Perseid meteor shower will peak beneath perfectly moonless skies.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of moonless
Adjective
  • The face of one subject is somewhat obscured, turned away from the camera.
    — Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Each of the 24 service members is seen in obscured profile, their voices modified to make identification impossible.
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of obscured
Adjective
  • Photos of Trump at this year’s World Economic Forum in Switzerland show an even gnarlier darkish bruise on his left hand.
    — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 22 Jan. 2026
Definition of darkish
Adjective
  • Its 19th-century spire lit up like a matchstick against the darkling sky, its tip cracking and plunging through the ceiling.
    — Michael Kimmelman, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2024
Definition of darkling
Adjective
  • The pope is, among many other things, an American baby boomer who, earlier this summer, referenced in a footnote in a treatise on peace a Dylan lyric so obscure that not even Padgett had ever heard of it.
    — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2026
  • From star lender to seized bank Ueno Bank, which skyrocketed from an obscure finance company to a household name in less than five years, claimed more than 60% of Paraguay’s adults as customers.
    — Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of obscure
Adjective
  • Three weeks before filming was to commence on Bad Lieutenant, Abel Ferrara‘s pitch-dark 1992 crime masterpiece, the director had a problem.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The music is quiet but powerful, blending pitch-dark tones and sunny melodies in ways that can recall Elliott Smith, Joanna Newsom, and Animal Collective, among other left-field heroes.
    — Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 17 July 2026
Definition of pitch-dark

Browse Nearby Words

penumbrae
penumbral
penurious
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Cite this Entry

“Penumbral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penumbral. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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