1
as in vague
not seen or understood clearly
the shadowy area between tough interrogation and torture
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of shadowy
The opening segment in which a key Soviet figure gets assassinated is one the highlights in an uneven mix of dirty spy games tied to a shadowy American spy organization called Caddis and family dysfunction of two broods.
—
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025
Paying college athletes for their athletic performance has been a shadowy pillar of University athletics for decades, until now.
—Nick Lomaglio, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
For example, while many groups are grassroots or local, one of the largest is the shadowy, pro-Israel Canary Mission.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 28 Aug. 2025
Visibility at night was another concern, as the dark finish gives the water a more reflective, shadowy look.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 23 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shadowy
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025
Paying college athletes for their athletic performance has been a shadowy pillar of University athletics for decades, until now.
—Nick Lomaglio, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
For example, while many groups are grassroots or local, one of the largest is the shadowy, pro-Israel Canary Mission.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 28 Aug. 2025
Visibility at night was another concern, as the dark finish gives the water a more reflective, shadowy look.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 23 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shadowy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shadowy
Adjective
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This Earth sign can be quite the perfectionist, preferring order and discernment over anything remotely vague and careless.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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Detainees can be held indefinitely without charges, often based on vague suspicion, anonymous tips, or looks alone.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Maybe not something drastic like a world war, slavery or the Holocaust, but there’s always shady s–t going on.—
Carl Lamarre,
Billboard,
3 Sep. 2025
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Meursault also starts hanging out with his shady and brutish French neighbor, Raymond (Pierre Lottin), whose abusive relationship with an Algerian girl (Hajar Bouzaouit) eventually leads to the murder.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Applebee’s recently managed its first quarter of same-store sales growth after eight consecutive declines, a faint improvement, but one that pales in comparison to the surge at Chili’s or the steady gains at Olive Garden.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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This leads to signals that are often faint, easily drowned out by background noise, and difficult to isolate in complex biological environments such as blood or tissue.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Shield carved pumpkins from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures, storing them in a cool, shaded area when possible.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Sep. 2025
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After meeting with city officials, the festival added more water stations and shaded areas.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This character development does not really land, however, and Mersault becomes increasingly hazy, disappearing into a cloud of abstraction in the third act.—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
2 Sep. 2025
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People take pictures with the Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas sign under hazy orange skies as the sun sets in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 29, 2023.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shadowy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shadowy. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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