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
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Recent Examples of umbra
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
The umbra is the inner, darker shadow where full blocking of sunlight takes place.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
This is when the Moon enters the umbra, and the change becomes more noticeable.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 19 Feb. 2026
The partial outer shadow is called the penumbra; the full, dark shadow is the umbra.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for umbra
Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 26 Feb. 2026
The umbra is the inner, darker shadow where full blocking of sunlight takes place.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
This is when the Moon enters the umbra, and the change becomes more noticeable.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 19 Feb. 2026
The partial outer shadow is called the penumbra; the full, dark shadow is the umbra.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for umbra
Recent Examples of Synonyms for umbra
Noun
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The fever dream continued with Howard wailing on guitar and vocals, the production morphing into a beautiful stew of blues rock and given an exclamation point – and a standing ovation – with Copeland spinning out of the shadows.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
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His work can be gritty, like an act of discovery, as his camera pops in and out of shadows, through desolate, post-apocalyptic shops and office buildings.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The lights will be dancing across a bridge that has spent nearly a century living in the shadow of its more glamorous Golden Gate sibling just across the water.—
Jose Fabian,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
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Together, the litigation cast a long shadow over the company but did not derail its latest acquisition.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Each hole has flashing barriers down the sides, and it’s all surrounded by glow-in-dark figures and video screens as music blares.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Mar. 2026
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Many national parks and attractions are developing after-dark programming that extends the visitor experience beyond daylight hours.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Interiors skew minimal and elemental (raw wood, concrete, metal) and spotlight a muted palette of sand and dusty olive green; shades that pull from the sunbaked landscape dotted with palms and agaves.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The Wine and Dine shade (a berry blush) is my favorite on my medium to tan skin tone.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The spice is one of seven items placed on the table for Nowruz, and represents dawn pushing out darkness, and the triumph of good over evil.—
Shaddi Abusaid,
AJC.com,
20 Mar. 2026
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On this day, the sun crosses the celestial equator, resulting in nearly equal amounts of daylight and darkness across the globe.—
Vytas Reid,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Set the scene The Cape sits on a bluff above Monuments Beach, the local surf break that draws board-toting regulars from dawn to dusk.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Just as dusk turns to night, Hoot the bloodhound picks up a scent.—
Ronnie Li,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Most recently, black-ish star Yara Shahidi played Tinker Bell in the 2023 live-action film Peter Pan & Wendy.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
13 Mar. 2026
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Another cohost, Demi Moore, looked sleek in black-and-brown Gucci print.—
Elise Taylor,
Vanity Fair,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The film's opening two minutes play out in complete blackness, a picture-less overture showcasing legendary James Bond composer John Barry's majestic score.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
8 Feb. 2026
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With the streets in pitch blackness, some neighbors said their cameras don't capture much more than the immediate surroundings of their home.—
Clara Migoya,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Umbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/umbra. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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