penumbra

noun

pə-ˈnəm-brə How to pronounce penumbra (audio)
Definition of penumbranext
1
as in shadow
partial darkness due to the obstruction of light rays the lunar eclipse began with a subtle darkening of the lunar surface as it passed within the Earth's penumbra

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in veil
something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth a penumbra of despair fell over the doomed city

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 penumbra First, the moon enters the faint outer shadow of the Earth, or the penumbra, where dimming is subtle; this is the penumbral eclipse. — Stefanie Waldek, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Mar. 2026 As the moon moves into Earth’s outer shadow, called the penumbra, the dimming is subtle. — Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 2 Mar. 2026 The Moon moves right to left, passing through the penumbra and umbra, leaving in its wake an eclipse diagram with the times at various stages of the eclipse. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Mar. 2026 During many eclipse seasons, the moon merely skims Earth's penumbra and umbra. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for penumbra
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penumbra
  1. shadow
  2. veil
  3. shade
  4. shroud
  5. blackness
  6. cloak
  7. dusk
  8. pall
Noun
  • Colors were suitably accurate and nicely saturated, and the image offered good contrast across the board from dark to bright scenes, along with impressively good shadow detail and a sense of three-dimensionality in dark scenes.
    — M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The bear was also recently featured in Southern Living — for a few months each fall, a local mountain casts a shadow shaped like a bear onto the fall foliage below.
    — Eva Flowe, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of shadow
Noun
  • And Russell had this big outfit on with all her veils and hats and everything.
    — Raymond Ang, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The enthusiasm, the words, and the clamor are a veil for vacuous neglect of the core justice fight at this critical milestone in American history.
    — Kamau Bobb October 21, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of veil
Noun
  • An all-red treatment defines the Cloudmonster, with a bright hue carrying through the upper and sole unit and darker shades used for the branding.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Packing over a billion vibrant shades powered by Quantum Dot technology and Dolby Vision HDR, every scene pops with stunning realism.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of shade
Noun
  • The show culminated in a voluminous black tulle cocoon, its shroud-like silhouette reinforcing the collection’s meditation on mortality.
    — Livia Caligor, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Here’s hoping the group has a few more honorary Halloween carrols up their decrepit, burial shroud-like sleeves.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of shroud
Noun
  • Nori of a perfect blackness, death-like, without the green glints of more common seaweed.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The surf was raging, completely enveloping the craft with only the swaying masts visible in the blackness of the night.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of blackness
Noun
  • This natural history is reflected in the city's grand cloak of Art Deco, neoclassical, and Romanesque architecture, the buildings' façades swathed in stone and iron detailing and girded by skeletons of steel.
    — Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Alleged violations included wearing colorful scarves or makeup, leaving hair visible or not wearing a chador, an all-enveloping cloak-like garment.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of cloak
Noun
  • As dusk fell Saturday, violence erupted at the end of some of the 289 protests counted by the Interior Ministry nationwide.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Evergreen is still an operating cemetery, all 85 acres open to mourners from dawn to dusk.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of dusk
Noun
  • The Republican candidate has been hobbling through the race, with lackluster fundraising and a long history of personal and legal scandals casting a pall over his candidacy.
    — Matthew Choi, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The play cast a pall over the rest of the game, but Oregon backup quarterback Dylan Raiola managed to throw for 289 yards and two touchdowns against USC’s defense.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of pall

Browse Nearby Words

penultimate
penumbra
penumbrae
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Cite this Entry

“Penumbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penumbra. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on penumbra

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about penumbra

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