shadowy

adjective

ˈsha-dō-ē How to pronounce shadowy (audio)
Definition of shadowynext
1
as in vague
not seen or understood clearly the shadowy area between tough interrogation and torture

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shady
protected from the sun's rays a shadowy lane that is a mosaic of colors during the autumn foliage season

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 shadowy Remember, Venus has everything to do with love, beauty, pleasure, values and money, while Pluto governs obsession, control, transformation, intimacy and the shadowy corners of the psyche. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026 Rubin will look for undiscovered asteroids (including potentially hazardous ones heading toward Earth), unimaginably powerful cosmic explosions, and clues about the shadowy dark energy and dark matter that shape the universe. — Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 1 July 2026 Moscow regularly recruits young men of various nationalities — the Starmer arsonists were Ukrainian-born — as proxies in its shadowy hybrid warfare campaigns, Reuters reported. — Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 15 June 2026 Curtis plays Violet Olvido, a journalist who begins investigating a string of killings linked to a shadowy international outsourcing company that recruits remote workers across the Philippines. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for shadowy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shadowy
  1. vague
  2. shady
  3. faint
  4. shaded
  5. hazy
Adjective
  • There’s no reason to think, for example, that decisions made by political appointees based on vague standards would be any more transparent than those made by peer reviewers based on scientific merit.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026
  • American Mission’s partnership with the company, as well as the ads’ vague message about Donalds, exemplify the opaque nature of the AI industry’s spending in the 2026 election cycle.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
Definition of vague
Adjective
  • The weather service also cautions the heat index is calculated for shady areas only.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • That makes these networks valuable for people trying to hide mass scraping, fake ad clicks, account attacks or other shady activity.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of shady
Adjective
  • Croatia looked to have tied the game in the final moments, but the faintest of touches by a Croatian player made Croatia offside.
    — Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 3 July 2026
  • Look almost directly above Mars for a much fainter, star-like point of light.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of faint
Adjective
  • To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026
  • To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of shaded
Adjective
  • In fact, the iconic band of hazy light known as the galactic center should routinely be visible for a few more months across the United States – and the rest of the northern hemisphere – arcing across the night sky.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • Go for the bold, unique brews, like the Blizzard of ’67 (named after an infamous winter storm), a hazy triple IPA with orange, pineapple, and mango notes.
    — Midwest Living, Midwest Living, 1 July 2026
Definition of hazy

Browse Nearby Words

shadows
shadowy
shady
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Cite this Entry

“Shadowy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shadowy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of shadowy for Spanish Speakers

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