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

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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 His producers find a shadowy space between the headrush of cloud rap and the glitchiness of PC Music hyperpop, where everything sounds colossal and darkly palatial. — Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 27 Oct. 2026 Through stoicism, Nighthawks spins the dark side of American life as cool; its quiet menace is slick and alluring, and its lonesome, shadowy characters are iconic. — Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026 Try Jackson’s go-to hue, Aprés Gel Couleur in Dusky Dawn, which is offset by shadowy gray tones, or Sally Hansen Lavender Skies, which features a sheer purple base and twinkling particles of holographic shimmer. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 24 Oct. 2026 Set in the modern Scottish Highlands, Laird is an epic family saga in which a proud Scot, Drummoch (Branagh), defies a shadowy American billionaire, Peter Bergstrom (Sarsgaard), hellbent on buying up the glens. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shadowy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shadowy
  1. vague
  2. shady
  3. faint
  4. shaded
  5. hazy
Adjective
  • The steps and skills required to adequately shop for groceries or pick out the right kindergarten for a child are broad and vague.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Trump’s allegations, the judge found, were vague, conclusory and sometimes contradicted by the article itself.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of vague
Adjective
  • In addition, consumer devices, including smart TVs and routers, can be secretly ensnared by such proxy services via malware or shady third-party software development kits (SDKs).
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
  • In making an explicit pledge not to sell customer data to outside firms, Ford is trying to position itself as one of the better actors in an industry rife with shady practices.
    — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of shady
Adjective
  • As light mist obscured the far-off Chicago skyline, only the faint sounds of metal cranes clanging and construction vehicles beeping in the distance broke up the quiet morning at Park 566 in South Shore.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The brightest planets are 100,000 times fainter than their host stars, meaning spotting them is like observing a firefly hovering around a lighthouse.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of faint
Adjective
  • Dubai has built more than 557 kilometers of cycle tracks, with a goal of 1,000 kilometers by 2030, and the urban planning department is adding shaded walking routes to make exercise feasible for longer stretches of the year.
    — Scott Campbell, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Club Kid takes some surprising turns on the way to its delicately shaded ending.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of shaded
Adjective
  • This view shows the nebula as a brown pillar of dust embedded in a hazy, almost rainbow field of dust and gas.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Rather than drawing a precise border around the lips, the technique involves buffing pigment outward to create a hazy, almost airbrushed effect.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 30 Oct. 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 8 Nov. 2026.

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