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 The full eclipse, or totality, begins when the moon moves completely into the umbra, turning its usually white surface a dim reddish-orange. — Stefanie Waldek, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Mar. 2026 The part of the moon inside the umbra appears very dark. — Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 2 Mar. 2026 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 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
  • Serra’s immersive event, a rapture of colors and shadows, pays fittingly grandiose tribute to an emissary of a legendary cinematic era.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The regulatory framework — not the smell itself — determines whether cannabis use happens in the open under reasonable rules or in the shadows with none at all.
    — Peter Su, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of shadows
Noun
  • Ronaldo played and scored in his sixth World Cup for Portugal this summer – an all-time record – but is now a shadow of the player that once dominated the sport.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Whitaker described the look as a slightly muted range of color with deep black shadows, not bleak or colorless, but restrained, serious, suburban, and ordinary.
    — Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of shadow
Noun
  • The film works by remembering the Disney dark ride version of Spielberg that helped launch the filmmaker to fame in the first place.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Temperature control requires some attention, as the trailers can heat up quickly in direct sunlight and cool dramatically after dark.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of dark
Noun
  • Rather than sticking to traditional off-white or ivory, the collection also includes muted shades like hay, hazelnut, and olive, giving sheer linen curtains a richer, more unexpected twist.
    — Nina Derwin, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Though the formula is available in a classic Clean Black, its alternative shade—Le Brun Clean—is worth considering.
    — Micaela English, Glamour, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of shade
Noun
  • The operator pulled down a gate with a clang, plunging us into darkness.
    — James Dinneen, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026
  • During the eclipse, the Moon passed between the Earth and the Sun, temporarily submerging parts of the region in darkness.
    — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of darkness
Noun
  • Dog walking is becoming a dawn-or-dusk activity, with governments in high heat zones advising owners against midday walks.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Mercury stays glued to the sun’s glare, visible only briefly at dawn or dusk and best at maximum elongation.
    — Damian Peach, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of dusk
Noun
  • An ink black Gaya Dynasty vessel is displayed in the salon and the artwork made of hanji, or Korean paper, by Chang Sup Chung, an important artist from the Korean monochromatic movement, hangs in the kitchen.
    — Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2026
  • This sleek and elegant laptop boasts a rich OLED touchscreen with juicy hues and deep blacks, paired with a power-efficient Snapdragon X2 Elite processor and 32GB of system memory.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of black
Noun
  • Totality was extraordinary, with a circle of blackness in the sky.
    — Raf Sanchez, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Experts say that the biggest challenge at that extreme level of blackness is actually measuring it.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 June 2026
Definition of blackness

Browse Nearby Words

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 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on umbra

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about umbra

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