1
as in shade
partial darkness due to the obstruction of light rays
the valley was in shadow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in black
shadows plural
a time or place of little or no light
lurking in the shadows
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in trace
a tiny often physical indication of something lost or vanished
a run-down mansion that is only a shadow of its former glory
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in glimmer
a very small amount
not even a shadow of a doubt about the defendant's guilt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in ghost
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people
rumors of a shadow haunting the castle
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to chase
to go after or on the track of
shadowing the suspect to see what he was up to
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to obscure
to make dark, dim, or indistinct
thickening clouds shadowed the countryside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 shadow
Gemma Price, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
Bowie has eyes shut behind pink shadow and corpse-like marble skin on the cover of Aladdin Sane, from 1973.
—Armin Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2026
Saleh said shadowing a specific receiver tends to be easier for the cornerback doing the shadowing than the rest of the secondary, which must adjust and compensate in term of responsibility and technique.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shadow
Noun
While the echoes of a pre-Chichén Itzá power still linger in every stone and shadow, contemporary Maya culture is thriving.
—Gemma Price, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
Bowie has eyes shut behind pink shadow and corpse-like marble skin on the cover of Aladdin Sane, from 1973.
—Armin Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
Meanwhile, a deviant killer operating in the yakuza underworld seems to be shadowing their moves.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2026
Saleh said shadowing a specific receiver tends to be easier for the cornerback doing the shadowing than the rest of the secondary, which must adjust and compensate in term of responsibility and technique.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shadow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shadow
Noun
-
Available in 10 wear-with-anything shades, including black, army green, and brown, the shacket has earned praise from shoppers who call out its high-quality construction and trendy yet comfortable design in their reviews.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
-
For more swoon-worthy savings, look no further than the Sam Edelman Women’s Talia Slip-on Shoes, which are a breeze to get on thanks to adjustable velcro straps, and also come in a vacation-ready French Burgundy shade.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Ariana Grande stunned in a dramatic black Vivienne Westwood Couture ball gown that featured draping velvet straps tied in bows at the shoulders.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Grab it in olive green, creamy white, or classic black.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Development on Titanique traces back a decade, when Mindelle, Rousouli and co-creator Ty Blue (Titanique's director) dreamed up the show and staged a concert presentation in.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Some fruit pits and seeds, like those in apples and pears, contain traces of cyanide, which is harmful to birds.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For the first time in many years, there is a real glimmer of hope for government transparency in Florida.—
Bobby Block,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Jan. 2026
-
From there, the glimmers of a more peaceful existence — one fueled by expression, not recklessness — give Lidia hope.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For the better part of eight years after Super Bowl 50, the Broncos were an organization with delusions of adequacy, fielding mediocre teams with major problems with ownership drama, mismanaged rosters, ghost drafts and an endless carousel of underwhelming quarterbacks.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Tony Sparano, whom Ross inherited, Joe Philbin, Adam Gase, Brian Flores and Mike McDaniel are the ghosts who haunt this franchise.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Plush, fuzzy styles such as the Snug Leaves Fuzzy Scuff slippers and NineCiFun Slip-ons wrap your feet in cloud-like comfort, while indoor/outdoor options like the Cushionaire Ollie Suede Moccasins and Kubua booties offer extra support and durability.—
Amber Love Bond,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Keep scrolling to shop more of the best Amazon finds under $20 to shop this week, from cloud-like bed pillows to a Lego building set that makes a great Valentine’s Day gift.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Investigators later determined that a gray Dodge Charger began chasing the Toyota at a high rate of speed.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Tech companies have also been chasing the next big product following the smartphone and think AI could be key to finding it.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This International Dark Sky Park, located in southwest Texas, is about a six-hour drive from San Antonio, the nearest city, so there won't be much light pollution obscuring your views of the constellations.—
Elizabeth Rhodes,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Medical issues and money woes can create a fog of anxiety that obscures the path forward.—
Eric Thomas,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shadow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shadow. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
