shadowy

adjective

ˈsha-dō-ē How to pronounce shadowy (audio)
Definition of shadowynext
1
as in vague
not seen or understood clearly the shadowy area between tough interrogation and torture

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shady
protected from the sun's rays a shadowy lane that is a mosaic of colors during the autumn foliage season

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 shadowy The idea is absurd but paired with Armand’s shadowy Budapest group and Fareed’s research, this revelation expands Interview with the Vampire’s world even more. — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 Utopia follows a group of nerds who discover a comic has been predicting historic events and accidentally unmask a shadowy conspiracy. — William Worrall, Space.com, 15 July 2026 The big mic drop at the conclusion of the finale turns out that Paula is a stone-cold (if possibly accidental) killer after all, and that the shadowy Souter Group is going to make her pay for her sins. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 15 July 2026 Dominguez told examining physicians that a shadowy figure pointed and made a laughing gesture before the attack. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for shadowy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shadowy
  1. vague
  2. shady
  3. faint
  4. shaded
  5. hazy
Adjective
  • Perhaps in an attempt to recognize the regulatory environment, the letter is notably careful and slightly vague in its language.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 29 July 2026
  • Second, rather than vague commitments to pacing, double down on safety and security investments.
    — Christian Catalini, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of vague
Adjective
  • Wait until fall to sod shady areas to prevent decline due to excessive moisture.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026
  • His name was carved on the same gravestone as Leslie’s, on a shady plot near the sea, but his ashes were scattered somewhere far from her bones.
    — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026
Definition of shady
Adjective
  • Because the new moon falls at virtually the same time, moonlight will not interfere, allowing even faint meteors to become visible from dark locations.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Red baseball stitches affix the quarter and foxing, and a slightly glossy gray Swoosh carries a faint diamond pattern.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 31 July 2026
Definition of faint
Adjective
  • Residents, tribal leaders and advocates say the shaded, overgrown site is a vital urban refuge and cultural landscape, suing Pasadena over tree removal, excavation and potential harm to ancestral remains.
    — Mack Baysinger Follow, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026
  • Martinez recommends looking for these products if your fence is in a consistently humid or shaded area.
    — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 26 July 2026
Definition of shaded
Adjective
  • In my experience, lobster seems to pair best with the sweeter notes of hazy IPAs, though prawns and octopus are good matches for those beers, too.
    — Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 24 July 2026
  • The Chiefs could choose to test Mahomes with snaps in the preseason, but that part remains hazy, as well.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026
Definition of hazy

Browse Nearby Words

shadows
shadowy
shady
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shadowy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shadowy. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on shadowy

Nglish: Translation of shadowy for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All