umbra

noun

ˈəm-brə How to pronounce umbra (audio)
Definition of umbranext
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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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 umbra During the early morning hours, the full moon will gradually slip behind the darkest part of the Earth's shadow, or umbra, and take on a reddish hue. — John Tufts, IndyStar, 1 Mar. 2026 During this event, the entire moon passes through the Earth's umbra (the darkest part of its shadow), causing the moon to appear darkened or reddened. — Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 26 Feb. 2026 Totality ends and the process reverses, with the umbra gradually retreating across the lunar surface. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026 The umbra is the inner, darker shadow, where sunlight is fully blocked from reaching the Moon’s surface. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 19 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for umbra
Recent Examples of Synonyms for umbra
  1. shadows
  2. shadow
  3. dark
  4. shade
  5. darkness
  6. dusk
  7. black
  8. blackness
Noun
  • But out of the shadows emerges a former soldier known only as Berry, who starts building a secret resistance network.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 15 July 2026
  • Blume’s unobtrusive handiwork lifts Show Me the Body out of the shadows without sun-bleaching their craggy exterior.
    — Eli Enis, Pitchfork, 15 July 2026
Definition of shadows
Noun
  • With 67% of employees engaging in shadow AI usage at work, this unapproved use of chatbots and other AI agents is potentially exposing companies’ sensitive data.
    — Ryan Grant, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • This dominance is physically and mentally exhausting for opponents, who are left chasing shadows as Spain’s technicians pass around them with precision.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of shadow
Noun
  • Each person’s light-dark exposure also differs depending on habits and location, which makes timing the biological clock difficult to measure precisely.
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 21 July 2026
  • Open areas around Wolfe Lake and Chignecto Campground provide good visibility toward the southwest during the eclipse, while the surrounding dark-sky corridor supports decent Perseid observing conditions after dark.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 19 July 2026
Definition of dark
Noun
  • Homes with too little tree coverage or that get a lot of direct afternoon sun will absorb more radiant heat that a home with natural shade.
    — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 17 July 2026
  • As the sun moves across the sky, the dual awnings help maintain shade from different angles.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 July 2026
Definition of shade
Noun
  • Still, there is a different feeling of watching a film on the big screen, the velvet darkness of the theater a portal into director Curry Barker’s sinister world of lonely young men and the fatal consequences of their heady desires.
    — Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
  • Among the concerns was worry that schoolchildren would have to get to class in darkness.
    — Deepti Hajela, Fortune, 16 July 2026
Definition of darkness
Noun
  • What’s Next In The Night Sky Over the next four weeks, the moon continues to wax, culminating in the rise — during dusk — of the full Buck Moon on July 29.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • This ring, traversing the sky for hours after dusk and before dawn, would outshine every star and planet, and be visible from every spot on Earth.
    — Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of dusk
Noun
  • The tank tops are available in an array of solid colors—from basic blacks, whites, and beiges, to bright magenta and summery cerulean.
    — Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 19 July 2026
  • Choose classic black or white for your set of two, which sits solidly on any flat outdoor surface—no digging required.
    — Sarah Scott, Southern Living, 19 July 2026
Definition of black
Noun
  • Experts say that the biggest challenge at that extreme level of blackness is actually measuring it.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 June 2026
  • In the restaurant, my dad looked at me with the passionate conviction of a man who was confident in his Blackness and wanted nothing more than to pass it on.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 June 2026
Definition of blackness

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ululating
umbra
umbrage
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Cite this Entry

“Umbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/umbra. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on umbra

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about umbra

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