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.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
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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.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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While a white shark’s fin is triangular, a dusky shark’s fin slopes and curves.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
18 May 2026
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Green has a toothier texture and fresher flavor; red is saucier with dusky, earthen undertones.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
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.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
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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.—
Michael d'Estries,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In some cases, apps disclose the behavior, often in small or obscured print.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
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However, sources say the tour’s production is working at improving the areas with obscured sightlines.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
19 May 2026
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.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
22 Jan. 2026
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
Adjective
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From tasting menus that spotlight a single grain variety to butcher counters featuring specific heritage breeds, professional kitchens are translating obscure agricultural choices into experiences diners remember.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
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What obscure motive lay behind this one?—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
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.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
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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.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Penumbral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penumbral. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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