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
The entire eclipse, including the penumbral and partial phases (as the full moon moves through Earth’s fuzzy outer shadow, the penumbra, and into its dark umbra), will last five hours and 27 minutes.
—
Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
When the moon moves into the inner part of Earth's shadow, or umbra, according to NASA, some of the sunlight entering Earth's skies scatters before reaching the moon's surface.
—John Tufts, The Courier-Journal, 11 July 2025
Moon enters Earth's umbra, the innermost and darkest part of the Earth's shadow, causing a partial eclipse.
—Allison Kiehl, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
During totality, the moon gradually slips into Earth’s umbra—the darkest part of its shadow—yet never vanishes entirely.
—Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for umbra
Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
When the moon moves into the inner part of Earth's shadow, or umbra, according to NASA, some of the sunlight entering Earth's skies scatters before reaching the moon's surface.
—John Tufts, The Courier-Journal, 11 July 2025
Moon enters Earth's umbra, the innermost and darkest part of the Earth's shadow, causing a partial eclipse.
—Allison Kiehl, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
During totality, the moon gradually slips into Earth’s umbra—the darkest part of its shadow—yet never vanishes entirely.
—Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for umbra
Recent Examples of Synonyms for umbra
Noun
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This quiz invites you to explore the darker corners of sci-fi literature, where monsters lurk not just in shadows, but in laboratories, alien worlds and post-apocalyptic wastelands.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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And while this civil war of sorts bloomed in the shadows in Kentucky, another culture sprung up in broad daylight.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Another growing concern that could contribute to this risk is the increasing use of shadow AI.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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The big blue gum out front clawed at the darkness, the hillside in back sank into a void of shadow, and the sky grinned its canescent grin.—
T. Coraghessan Boyle,
New Yorker,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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When And Where To See It To see the Great Square, face east after dark.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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He is better known as Fray Tormenta, the orphanage-sponsoring priest who wrestled after dark, and whose life became the backstory for the movie’s titular character.—
Justin Barrasso,
Boston Herald,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Rather than cool or platinum tones, opt for caramel, sand, and honey shades.—
Jeanne Ballion,
Glamour,
11 Sep. 2025
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The deep red shade is ideal for fall, while the neon pink piping and drawstrings add a unique touch.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The darkness not of mystery but of fear.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Sep. 2025
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His beam wavered on a patch of blankness, or the corner of an amp, and then began to roam the stage in desperation, scanning here and scanning there—until, from the darkness, the voice of Bruce Dickinson, Iron Maiden’s singer, was heard.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Its central glass dome—home to the swimming paradise—glows like a lantern at dusk.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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The two halves of the body had been carefully placed, lined up, and posed for public view on Norton Avenue, with its considerable foot traffic from dawn to dusk.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The color of Lord’s truck, a deep red-black, came out of an experiment with his painter.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Sep. 2025
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Samsung’s 55-inch S90C OLED TV drops by $1,350, delivering rich colors, deep blacks, and ultra-low input lag that makes gaming and movie nights feel next-level.—
Shubham Yewale,
PC Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The blue sky gave way to the blackness of space about 8 minutes and 4o seconds after leaving the ground.—
Robert Z. Pearlman,
Space.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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But the town’s blackness isn’t just about coal—or, for that matter, about the police abuse Shinhye suffers there.—
Lily Meyer,
The Atlantic,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Umbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/umbra. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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