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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penumbra
For now, we’re held in the sweet penumbra of heaviness.
—
James Parker, The Atlantic, 16 Dec. 2025
During a partial solar eclipse, the umbra misses Earth, with only the penumbra — the moon's outer, fuzzier and lighter shadow — striking Earth.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The umbra is a darker inner shadow and the penumbra is a fainter outer shadow, according to NASA.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 6 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
See All Example Sentences for penumbra
James Parker, The Atlantic, 16 Dec. 2025
During a partial solar eclipse, the umbra misses Earth, with only the penumbra — the moon's outer, fuzzier and lighter shadow — striking Earth.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The umbra is a darker inner shadow and the penumbra is a fainter outer shadow, according to NASA.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 6 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
See All Example Sentences for penumbra
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penumbra
Noun
-
While the lunar far side will be only partially lit during the flyby, the lighting is set to cast long shadows that highlight craters, ridges, and slopes in greater detail.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Apr. 2026
-
And yet, the dog—Sydney’s shadow, his stray—stared back at Victor, tail wagging in recognition.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Her dance of the seven veils is sexy typing.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The resulting works were breathtaking, immersing the viewer in luminous veils of paint that swept across the canvas, seeming to splash back up from the bottom, creating an enveloping sense of tranquility and awe that pushed against the jittery energy of Abstract Expressionism.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Soft pastel shades—think mint, or light pink—adorn the walls, and there are rain showers in the simple-yet-functional bathrooms.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Light, warm, and slightly translucent shades have the ability to reflect light, which creates an optical effect of softness and evenness.—
Andrea Carbajal,
Glamour,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The 39 members of the group were discovered lying on their backs and covered by purple shrouds.—
Frannie Comstock,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Mar. 2026
-
He had been released by the Philadelphia Phillies in February amid a shroud of controversy regarding his relationship with manager Rob Thomson and others in the organization.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Later in the day, a live video feed from a camera mounted on one of Orion's solar wings showed the moon dead ahead, a tiny gray marble suspended in blackness.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The film's opening two minutes play out in complete blackness, a picture-less overture showcasing legendary James Bond composer John Barry's majestic score.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
While scientists have long understood the importance of this cloak, one aspect of its biology has remained deeply puzzling.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
At other times, the cloak reads as an exterior, modulated, flowing sculptural layer—almost like a cloud that envelops the building, as with the Luma Tower in Arles, France.—
Norman Foster,
Artforum,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Schools and workplaces open at night, construction sites buzz in the small hours under massive floodlights, and outdoor recreation takes place in the twilights of dawn and dusk.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
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The boat, Nazila 05, departed from a port on Taliabu island in North Maluku province just after dusk Sunday bound for Kema in North Sulawesi province, Rizal said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
An analysis earlier this year found that student loan defaults now occur every nine seconds, a rate that could cast a pall on Gen Z’s hopes for economic mobility well into the 2030s.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
There is a pall over the Make America Great Again, or MAGA, movement.—
Alex Hinton,
The Conversation,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Penumbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penumbra. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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