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
Global Risk Advisors had been a shadowy operation.
—
David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
The phishing emails underscore the threat of DarkSword, an attack that was originally used by a handful of shadowy groups for cyberespionage and cybercrime.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026
Most identity theft stories start with a shadowy hacker or a data breach.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Mar. 2026
Louis Theroux is back with a deep dive into the shadowy online world of the manosphere.
—Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shadowy
David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
The phishing emails underscore the threat of DarkSword, an attack that was originally used by a handful of shadowy groups for cyberespionage and cybercrime.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026
Most identity theft stories start with a shadowy hacker or a data breach.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Mar. 2026
Louis Theroux is back with a deep dive into the shadowy online world of the manosphere.
—Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shadowy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shadowy
Adjective
-
This year, the administration’s budget proposal doesn’t include a hard deadline for phasing out SLS and Orion, just the vaguer request to look for commercial alternatives.—
Sana Pashankar,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
-
There’s just sort of vague purple-ish themes throughout the special.—
Deputy Entertainment,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, Wagner uses his corrupt politician father’s connections to stage a meeting for him and Morgan with Willa Quinn (Jennifer Jason Leigh), the shady political fixer connected to the disappearance of Morgan’s ex, Roman, 15 years ago.—
Max Gao,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Wagner had only occasional presence and went MIA for awhile, coming across as a shady character and a possible villain who was set up as a potential love interest for Morgan early on.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
While attempting to catch them, officers heard a faint sound coming from a drainage pipe beneath them.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
-
To find them, scientists developed advanced computational methods that sift through massive datasets, using algorithms to scan millions of faint light sources and test billions of possible motion paths to pinpoint the slow, subtle movements of these distant worlds.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
There’s a shaded patio out there that just begs for long, slow lunch or brunch visits, or splitting a rib-eye steak Diane at night.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The grounds are just as stunning, and even on the hottest summer day guests feel at ease walking through the lush, shaded gardens planted nearly 100 years ago.—
Catherine Garcia,
TheWeek,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Hole was a place where a mother was blind, deaf, and utterly disconnected to her previous life, the concepts of career and friendship and exercise and positive reinforcement just hazy memories of a distant realm.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Article continues below Star clusters and dimmer nebulas are visible threaded through the galactic plane, while the Large Magellanic Cloud — a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way — appears as a hazy patch of light to the bottom right of the shot.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shadowy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shadowy. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
