Synonyms of shadows

shadows 1 of 2

noun

plural of shadow

as in dark

a time or place of little or no light

lurking in the shadows

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dark
• darkness
• blackness
• black
• dusk
• night
• twilight
• gloom
• candlelight
• midnight
• semidarkness
• shade
• murk
• gloaming
• umbra
• blackout
• dullness
• dimness
• half-light
• murkiness
• grayness
• haziness
• paleness
• faintness
• umbrage
• cloudiness
• somberness
• shadiness
• gloominess
• mistiness
• brownout
• dimout
• fogginess

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• light
• glow
• brightness
• glare
• daylight
• day
• moonlight
• sunlight
• brilliance
• blaze
• lightness
• starlight
• sunshine
• radiance
• shine
• luminescence
• luminosity
• luminance
• effulgence
• radiancy
• incandescence
• luminousness

shadows

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of shadow

1

as in chases

to go after or on the track of

shadowing the suspect to see what he was up to

Synonyms & Similar Words

• chases
• tracks
• pursues
• traces
• escorts
• tails
• trails
• follows
• dogs
• runs after
• courses
• accompanies
• tags
• hounds
• bird-dogs
• eyes
• watches
• runs
• hunts
• seeks
• searches (for)
• chaperones
• observes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• leads
• guides
• pilots
• heads

2

as in blurs

to make dark, dim, or indistinct

thickening clouds shadowed the countryside

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blurs
• obscures
• darkens
• clouds
• blackens
• shrouds
• mists
• dims
• hazes
• overshadows
• fogs
• shades
• overcasts
• beclouds
• bedims
• overclouds
• fuzzes (up)
• hides
• befogs
• conceals
• dislimns
• eclipses
• masks
• blears
• curtains
• covers
• obliterates
• adumbrates
• cloaks
• screens
• camouflages
• blots out
• veils
• disguises

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• illuminates
• lights (up)
• reveals
• brightens
• illumines
• exposes
• lightens
• uncovers
• unveils

3

as in shades

to shelter (something) from light and heat

a pathway shadowed by a canopy of arching branches

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shades
• protects
• clouds
• covers
• dims
• overshadows
• darkens
• dulls
• overcasts
• screens
• canopies

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lights
• illuminates
• exposes
• lightens

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of shadows

Noun

If there's snow on the ground, check for shadows made by Venus's light. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 1 Nov. 2026

Rattlesnakes are lazy hunters that wait in the shadows for prey to approach. — Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 1 Nov. 2026

Light from the 1970s casts harsh shadows on a smartphone case. — Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026

The shadows of derelict city vehicles flickered against the distant back wall as the light operator sped up, frantically searching for partying concertgoers. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026

The tech-dystopian Washington of Minority Report (2002) is bleached in cold blues and metallic noir shadows. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2026

Now, the Department of Health and Human Services is looking to bring them out of the shadows. — Sydney Lupkin, NPR, 28 Oct. 2026

The Washington Post on Tuesday also published an analysis of how the arch would cast shadows on thousands of military graves and several monuments in the cemetery. — Dan Diamond, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026

Visions, enhanced with shadows and emotion, came to life on marble through sketching the stone and chiseling and carving entirely by hand. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026

Verb

But that story — hers, Georgia’s and the nation’s — shadows her battle with Republican nominee Rick Jackson. — Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026

An unusually tight security detail shadows Rodríguez’s every step. — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 30 July 2026

While darker colors remained visible, they could be mistaken for dirt, debris, or shadows underwater. — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 1 May 2026

My driver slowed on purpose, timing the arrival for that late-afternoon light when the stucco warms and shadows sharpen. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026

The corridor before him seems never-ending, extending miles, shadows short and dark, shadows light and long. — Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026

Through it all, Kate and William balanced expanding royal duties with school runs and family life, even as illness still shadows the monarchy. — Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 19 Dec. 2025

However, Quinyon Mitchell has taken a step up this season and shadows the NFL’s best receiver. — Zach Berman, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025

If Gonzalez shadows Panthers rookie wideout Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina’s leading receiver, their battle could swing critical moments and perhaps the game. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 28 Sep. 2025