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
-
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
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As scientists often find darkened teeth in ancient burials, other factors can contribute to a black appearance, notably the chewing of betel leaves.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Smoky, dusky interpretations of color are on the rise.—
Marisa Suzanne Martin,
The Spruce,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Paths cross at Birdsong lobby lounge and bar, an airy double-height space where mid-century-style terrazzo floors and starburst chandeliers blend with curvaceous pink velvet chairs and dusky blue drapes, with the city shimmering in the background.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
But best are moonless nights, when shimmering whorls of the Milky Way fill the night and desert creatures emerge to crawl and slither the dunes.—
Anna Zacharias,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But the specifics, the why behind each decision, the next move waiting around the corner – those remain deliberately obscured.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The interior worlds of these women remain obscured and their motivations go unexplored.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
19 Mar. 2026
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
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
-
Hantavirus is suspected of spreading aboard a luxury cruise ship, killing three passengers and sparking new concerns as a once obscure disease, with an extraordinarily high death rate, rises amid changing climate conditions.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2026
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Pau’s early work cohered around a nonnarrative approach to themes of alienation and isolation, rendered through obscure and richly textured visuals.—
Pauline J. Yao,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
On school days, that meant waking up in pitch-dark and walking to the bus stop with a flashlight.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Penumbral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penumbral. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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