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
During a total lunar eclipse, the moon passes through the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, known as the umbra.
—
Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Sep. 2025
The umbra is a darker inner shadow and the penumbra is a fainter outer shadow, according to NASA.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Sep. 2025
During totality, when the moon is fully inside Earth’s darkest shadow, its umbra, the only sunlight that can reach the lunar surface is traveling through the Earth’s atmosphere.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
During totality, the entire moon is inside Earth's umbra, turning a deep red or orange color.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for umbra
Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Sep. 2025
The umbra is a darker inner shadow and the penumbra is a fainter outer shadow, according to NASA.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Sep. 2025
During totality, when the moon is fully inside Earth’s darkest shadow, its umbra, the only sunlight that can reach the lunar surface is traveling through the Earth’s atmosphere.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
During totality, the entire moon is inside Earth's umbra, turning a deep red or orange color.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for umbra
Recent Examples of Synonyms for umbra
Noun
-
Add Giannis Antetokounmpo, and then having a group of hard-working, persistent, industrious players that succeed in the shadows is fine.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
-
He has since been released without bail, but the political implications still sit in the shadows, especially after an event celebrating Black music, culture, and history.—
Essence,
Essence,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Her eyes were embellished with pumpkin-colored shadow on her lids, shimmering white shadow in her inner corners and sky-high lashes that tickled the bottoms of her brows, while her lips were lined in a dark taupe hue and filled with clear gloss.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
30 Jan. 2026
-
At night, shadows from the tree leaves outside dance on the floor through the large window.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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For pure spectacle, Mardi Gras World reveals how the city’s legendary floats come alive; Vue Orleans delivers 360-degree views and smart interactive storytelling; and New Orleans Secrets tours takes you inside haunted buildings after dark for a paranormal experience with real atmospheric bite.—
Sophie Morgan,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Life’s basic chemistry may start not in warm ponds on young planets but in the icy dark between the stars.—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones?—
Sarah Han,
Allure,
27 Jan. 2026
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The good news is Hard Rock Stadium has a canopy-style roof that provides some shade during matches.—
Taylor Haught,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The bright blue bioluminescence visible to nighttime visitors is even more dramatic against the darkness during a new moon.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Jan. 2026
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Wang specializes in balancing tragedy with mirth (see her award-winning film The Farewell), though Expats plunges deeper into grief and darkness.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Some planets — like Venus and Mercury — are inherently difficult to spot due to their tight orbit around our parent star, which keeps them low on the horizon around dawn or dusk.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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Unlike some of Dubai’s city centre skyscrapers, where rooms are hermetically sealed within glass and steel, every accommodation comes with its own spacious balcony for lounging and gazing at the sun setting over the sea or the city lighting up at dusk.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Steve Madden Leni Ballet Flats These Steve Madden glove flats are genuinely comfortable and total compliment magnets—coming in statement-adjacent colorways that set them apart from the usual (plus a classic black, for good measure).—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
31 Jan. 2026
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The Parisian customization house reimagined the World Is Yours Dual Time Zone, dressing it almost entirely in its signature black.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Passengers get to experience a few minutes of weightlessness and see Earth against the blackness of space during New Shepard flights, each of which lasts 10 to 12 minutes.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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Even stranger, the negative space between the stars had flipped to positive, forming a soft, almost palpable blackness that embraced the stars and reached all the way to Earth, enveloping it and me in the same intergalactic blanket.—
Michael Pollan,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Umbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/umbra. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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