as in darkened
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Recent Examples of penumbral
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
On March 3, 2026, totality will last 58 minutes, but the full event — including penumbral and partial phases — will span 5 hours and 38 minutes.
—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
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
After this March event, Earth’s shadow will only skim the moon, creating less impactful partial and penumbral eclipses in late 2026, 2027 and 2028.
—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
The stages of the eclipse include penumbral and umbral phases, which refer to the two main parts of the shadow that the moon casts.
—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
6 Sep. 2025
Stefanie Waldek,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Mar. 2026
On March 3, 2026, totality will last 58 minutes, but the full event — including penumbral and partial phases — will span 5 hours and 38 minutes.
—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
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
After this March event, Earth’s shadow will only skim the moon, creating less impactful partial and penumbral eclipses in late 2026, 2027 and 2028.
—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
The stages of the eclipse include penumbral and umbral phases, which refer to the two main parts of the shadow that the moon casts.
—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penumbral
Adjective
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She’s talked up her push to convert darkened streetlights, many of them stripped of their copper wire, to solar power.
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In the darkened foyer, Ember contemplated this unassuming bit of paper, momentarily paralyzed by a mixture of dread and excitement stirred together, an overpowering sensation that oozed from the crown of her head, down the length of her body, then hardened, like a soft golden resin becoming solid.
Adjective
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In Randolph’s photo, Brisket could be seen lounging on a dusky pink velvet chair with a table in front of him set with a martini and a glass of red wine.
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Small dusky dolphins swarm the boat, riding its bow wave, while Hector’s dolphins, albatrosses, and humpback whales make cameos.
Adjective
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The moonless nights of mid-May are a fantastic time to spot the glowing band of the Milky Way arching across the spring sky, before the encroaching twilight of the summer months shortens the viewing window.
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This will result in moonless nights on either side of May 16, ideal for everything from backyard binocular sessions to a full-on dark sky getaway.
Adjective
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For one thing, near-infrared light can pass through thin clouds, so an obscured sky wouldn't prevent communication.
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Earl Hindman scored the role of Wilson, the Taylor's wise (and facially obscured) neighbor, on Home Improvement, appearing in 203 episodes of the series.
Adjective
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Photos of Trump at this year’s World Economic Forum in Switzerland show an even gnarlier darkish bruise on his left hand.
Adjective
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Its 19th-century spire lit up like a matchstick against the darkling sky, its tip cracking and plunging through the ceiling.
Adjective
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What has changed in recent years, however, is that prediction markets are no longer an obscure pastime enjoyed by political junkies.
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What many people don’t know is that an earlier and more obscure stint during the administration of President Gerald Ford shaped him as a public servant.
Adjective
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The 21st century has yielded no shortage of stylish horror marbled with devious veins of pitch-dark humor — Peter Strickland’s In Fabric, Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook, Halina Reijn’s Bodies Bodies Bodies, Sam Raimi’s Drag Me to Hell, pretty much every Jordan Peele feature.
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The play opens in a pitch-dark, three-star-hotel room, a step down for a bereaved family that has lost its patriarch and, as important, its promised inheritance.
Cite this Entry
“Penumbral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penumbral. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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