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 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
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
Noun
-
As a result, MSV now lives on in the shadows.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
-
Aerial video of the blaze showed smoke billowing from numerous beachside buildings, with large gray plumes of smoke casting dark shadows on the beach's turquoise waters.—
Robert McGreevy,
FOXNews.com,
20 June 2026
Noun
-
The peak brightness achieved by the G6 reveals both the subtlest shadows and the brightest highlights simultaneously.—
Nam Sunwoo,
Variety,
19 June 2026
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The team even ran the rover through the deep, confusing shadows of dusk and dawn.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
Bonus points for weather nice enough to stay outside after dark.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
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Get Spooky With the Haunts of Mackinac One of the best ways to learn about the island’s history is to explore it after dark.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
The cinnamon sugar option offers a pretty shade (basically my lips but better) plus a super yummy scent.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
-
The electric blue shade adds such a fun pop of color to a summer wardrobe, instantly brightening up basics like white jeans, denim shorts, or neutral trousers.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
24 June 2026
Noun
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In the midst of this darkness, Obama’s tower rises, not to represent a perfect man or president (there is no such thing), but to represent a Platonic ideal of what America can and should be.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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Keeping Americans in the darkness about the parts of our history that include systemic racism not only perpetuates ignorance, but is a moral failure.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2026
Noun
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Other actions to reduce risk include avoiding exposure during peak feeding times at dusk and dawn, wearing long sleeves and pants to prevent mosquito bites, and draining standing water in yards and gardens to minimize breeding areas.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
The day eases toward dusk in warm, unhurried tones.—
David Dickstein,
Oc Register,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Her eyes were blue, and her robe was astral black.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
20 June 2026
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Her hair, once again, was styled in a beautiful updo that gains volume at the back, while her lashes are coated in a rich, deep black.—
Laura Scafati,
Vanity Fair,
20 June 2026
Noun
-
Hawthorne mostly succeeds at keeping the blackness in check in this foray into YA.—
John Swansburg,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2026
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From individual missions to tours aboard the ISS, video games have featured surprisingly often in the inky blackness of space.—
William Worrall,
Space.com,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Umbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/umbra. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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