1
as in shadows
a time or place of little or no light
strange noises were coming from the wooded umbra beyond our campfire
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2
as in shadow
partial darkness due to the obstruction of light rays
during a solar eclipse observers located within the umbra experience a complete blocking of the sun by the moon
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Recent Examples of umbra
During a total lunar eclipse, the moon passes through the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, known as the umbra.
—
Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Sep. 2025
The umbra is a darker inner shadow and the penumbra is a fainter outer shadow, according to NASA.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Sep. 2025
During totality, when the moon is fully inside Earth’s darkest shadow, its umbra, the only sunlight that can reach the lunar surface is traveling through the Earth’s atmosphere.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
During totality, the entire moon is inside Earth's umbra, turning a deep red or orange color.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for umbra
Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Sep. 2025
The umbra is a darker inner shadow and the penumbra is a fainter outer shadow, according to NASA.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Sep. 2025
During totality, when the moon is fully inside Earth’s darkest shadow, its umbra, the only sunlight that can reach the lunar surface is traveling through the Earth’s atmosphere.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
During totality, the entire moon is inside Earth's umbra, turning a deep red or orange color.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for umbra
Recent Examples of Synonyms for umbra
Noun
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The changes also allowed Mingo to step out of the shadows cast by André DeShields and Richard Pryor, who played the Wiz in the original Broadway show and 1978 movie adaptation, and make the role his own.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
7 Jan. 2026
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In it, prisoners trapped inside a cave perceive the world only through shadows cast by outside objects.—
Ben Brubaker,
Quanta Magazine,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Walk out of a play’s shadows back into the clear light of day without a there to take with you, and even a burning cauldron will become little more than a brief candle.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
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The events occurred in and around the lawless border of Venezuela and Colombia, where spies, smugglers and gun runners rub shoulders and distrust their own shadow.—
Kevin G. Hall,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Columbus Police The footage shows the person in a dark, hooded top and lighter color pants, walking with their hands in their pockets.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
5 Jan. 2026
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Sunny skies by day often bring clear nightscapes after dark, so soak up the starry splendor on the Tucson Astro Trail, which links 12 area observatories and dark-sky parks.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Outside,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Available in 10 wear-with-anything shades, including black, army green, and brown, the shacket has earned praise from shoppers who call out its high-quality construction and trendy yet comfortable design in their reviews.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
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For more swoon-worthy savings, look no further than the Sam Edelman Women’s Talia Slip-on Shoes, which are a breeze to get on thanks to adjustable velcro straps, and also come in a vacation-ready French Burgundy shade.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Why were they drawn into this particular darkness?—
Rebecca Hannigan,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
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The resident explained how citizens have been waiting for the cover of darkness to take to the streets in Iran’s larger cities.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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As for what these glorious creatures sound like, the great eared nightjar's piercing call can be heard at dawn and dusk.—
Marina Watts,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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So instead, to keep costs down and power up, the Starcloud satellite flies what is known as a dawn-dusk sun-synchronous orbit, circling the planet at a near vertical 83° angle that carries it over the poles and keeps it almost constantly exposed to the sun.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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His handsome face is bruised and broken and a black that is unrecognizable.—
Davon Loeb,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
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All of the steel is painted a matte black, to blend into the woody surroundings.—
Tribune News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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One hour becomes two, two become three, my mind straining for answers in the blackness.—
Rowan Jacobsen,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
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Smoke and blackness enfolded him.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Umbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/umbra. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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