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

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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

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 series follows Yusuke Nogi, a Japanese trading company employee drawn into an international conspiracy tied to a shadowy government intelligence unit known as Beppan. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026 Today, as described in a recent analysis in Foreign Affairs, the Houthis are harnessing diversified supply chains and shadowy financial networks while building up domestic production capacity. — April Longley Alley, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2026 The findings could help place other ancient hominin remains as Denisovans—helping to color in more of their shadowy history. — Tom Metcalfe, Scientific American, 9 Sep. 2026 Despite its mere 92-minute runtime, its shadowy, eye-catching tableaus extend for lengthy stretches without conjuring much meaning — or at least, without meaning appropriate to its characters’ sprawling, novelistic dialogue. — Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shadowy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shadowy
  1. vague
  2. shady
  3. faint
  4. shaded
  5. hazy
Adjective
  • Even as strong as the UNEP report is, the language of who does mitigation is so vague as to almost verge on the passive voice.
    — Stephanie Walton, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026
  • North Korea issued a vague expression of regret over the soldiers’ injuries without clearly accepting responsibility.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of vague
Adjective
  • There was money, manipulation, secret meetings with shady characters in China, fake identities, lies, trickery, and deceit.
    — Eamon Javers, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Our favorite spots to lounge were the roof deck loungers and the padded bench seating beneath shady palm fronds in the atrium courtyard.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of shady
Adjective
  • The backstory For most of my life, the Old Dutch Inn has been just a faint memory of kicking my legs from a bar stool, drinking a Shirley Temple next to my late grandmother, who would likely have been nursing a gin and tonic.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The outcry over data centers — warehouses that contain the hardware for powering artificial intelligence and other technology — was only a faint murmur when McCallister first saw the survey markers.
    — Justin Papp, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of faint
Adjective
  • The balloting was marred by violence and irregularities, including a deadly shooting, a bomb blast and pre-shaded ballots that force delayed voting in dozens of precincts.
    — Teresa Cerojano, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the town of Maluso on Basilan Island was put under the control of the Commission on Elections after pre-shaded ballots were found in 36 out of 68 precincts.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of shaded
Adjective
  • As the show became a cultural juggernaut, some criticized its vigilante justice and the hazy line between law enforcement and journalism.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The Libra Sun opposes Neptune across your career and home zones, making ambition look especially attractive while the personal cost remains hazy.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of hazy

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shadows
shadowy
shady
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Cite this Entry

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

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