1
a
: of the nature of or resembling a shadow
b
: faintly perceptible : indistinct
2
: being in or obscured by shadow
deep shadowy interiors
3
a
b
Examples of shadowy in a Sentence
She was pursued by a shadowy figure.
He had only a shadowy idea of what they wanted him to do.
Recent Examples on the Web
But the textures also start to get too uniformly shadowy, the beats too stiff.
—
Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
People familiar with Wallace’s work have likened him to Ray Donovan, the eponymous shadowy troubleshooter from the Showtime series.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
The Ku Klux Klan maintained a shadowy presence in Hanceville well into the second half of the 20th century; KKK meetings took place in some homes and hideaways here as recently as the 1980s.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
These autocrats have watched and learned as Erdoğan has scapegoated various rival groups in his country, branding them shadowy forces unleashed by the American philanthropist George Soros.
—Kaya Genç, The Dial, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shadowy
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Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
People familiar with Wallace’s work have likened him to Ray Donovan, the eponymous shadowy troubleshooter from the Showtime series.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
The Ku Klux Klan maintained a shadowy presence in Hanceville well into the second half of the 20th century; KKK meetings took place in some homes and hideaways here as recently as the 1980s.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
These autocrats have watched and learned as Erdoğan has scapegoated various rival groups in his country, branding them shadowy forces unleashed by the American philanthropist George Soros.
—Kaya Genç, The Dial, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shadowy
Cite this Entry
“Shadowy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shadowy. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shadowy
adjective
shad·owy
ˈshad-ə-wē 
1
a
: not realistic
shadowy dreams of glory
b
: dim as a shadow
the shadowy area between good and bad
2
: full of shade
a shadowy lane
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