1
as in shade
partial darkness due to the obstruction of light rays
the valley was in shadow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in black
shadows plural
a time or place of little or no light
lurking in the shadows
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in trace
a tiny often physical indication of something lost or vanished
a run-down mansion that is only a shadow of its former glory
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in glimmer
a very small amount
not even a shadow of a doubt about the defendant's guilt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in apparition
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people
rumors of a shadow haunting the castle
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to chase
to go after or on the track of
shadowing the suspect to see what he was up to
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to obscure
to make dark, dim, or indistinct
thickening clouds shadowed the countryside
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 shadow
John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
After weeks of shadow work, miscommunication, and recalibration, Venus in Leo reawakens the joy of being seen and appreciated.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 30 July 2025
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 July 2025
Amongst all of the terrible and regressive decisions and shadow docket orders the Supreme Court spewed forth this term, there was a rare, small win for libraries and schools.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shadow
Noun
For more than a year, Paxton, 62, has been running something of a shadow campaign against Cornyn, who himself was the state attorney general before being elected to the Senate in 2002.
—John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
After weeks of shadow work, miscommunication, and recalibration, Venus in Leo reawakens the joy of being seen and appreciated.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 30 July 2025
Verb
This may lead to shadowing or blurring when the screen is dark.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 July 2025
Amongst all of the terrible and regressive decisions and shadow docket orders the Supreme Court spewed forth this term, there was a rare, small win for libraries and schools.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shadow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shadow
Noun
-
Kids line up here for scoops and floats, while parents enjoy the shade at outdoor picnic tables or on the roof overlooking the water.—
Katherine Lawless,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Aug. 2025
-
Emma Stone wears shades paired with a baseball jersey while walking on the field after the San Diego Padres played the New York Mets at PetCo Park in San Diego on July 30.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Take your pick from black to mocha to crisp, winter white.—
Taylor Jean Stephan,
Peoplemag,
31 Jan. 2023
-
Flaunt this fun, floral style, or opt for their best-selling classic black.—
Meg Donohue,
Town & Country,
31 Jan. 2023
Noun
-
These linguistic traces, quietly embedded in the city’s layout, are a reminder that York’s Viking past is never far beneath the surface.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
-
In addition to houses, researchers discovered traces of production facilities and sanctuaries.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
29 July 2025
Noun
-
Despite the serious nature of the diagnosis, Ospreay offered a glimmer of hope.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 July 2025
-
In the past year, there was a little glimmer of recovery: Earnings were up about 22% on a 2.7% revenue increase.—
John Dorfman,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Mercury reaches its point of greatest eastern elongation on Friday (July 4), presenting an excellent opportunity to spot the rocky planet during its evening apparition in the post-sunset sky.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
2 July 2025
-
While contemplating his former love and his future as a father, Massey conjures up the apparition of his beloved Catherine.—
Claire Franken,
TVLine,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The grassy mantle was dying, exposing the earth, and dust clouds began to sweep across the runways.—
Fabio Morábito,
New Yorker,
24 July 2025
-
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
The song is a tribute to musical nomads who chase the impulses of a song around the globe.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
14 July 2025
-
An ax-wielding stranger initially mistaken for a delivery driver chased a woman into her home, then led deputies on a 13-mile chase, a California sheriff’s office reported.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
By the time of totality at 3:20 p.m., dense clouds obscured the view, with an eerie darkness and a golden horizon.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
-
He was either shrouded in haze (the gasps of the fog machine eventually became indistinguishable from the vapor being collectively exhaled by the crowd) or obscured by low-angle backlighting.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
21 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shadow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shadow. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share