as in pursuit
the act of going after or in the tracks of another
the submarine's relentless shadowing of the destroyer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in chasing
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 obscuring
to make dark, dim, or indistinct
thickening clouds shadowed the countryside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in shading
to shelter (something) from light and heat
a pathway shadowed by a canopy of arching branches
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 shadowing
Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 29 Jan. 2026
Saleh said shadowing a specific receiver tends to be easier for the cornerback doing the shadowing than the rest of the secondary, which must adjust and compensate in term of responsibility and technique.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
The British military carried out a similar shadowing operation in July, after spotting the Russian sub Novorossiysk in its territorial waters.
—CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Conversely, clinginess, shadowing, or distress during brief separations may signal a need for more support and predictability.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
The best way to explore a pivot is through low-risk experiments—side projects, volunteering, freelancing or shadowing.
—Julia Korn, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
Good was shot earlier this month by an ICE agent while shadowing federal law enforcement in her vehicle.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Since September, Druzhyna has spent his weekdays in Milwaukee, attending classes and shadowing other perfusionists during surgery.
—Natalie Yahr, jsonline.com, 30 Jan. 2026
By Michael Pollan Anyone who thinks the contemplative life amounts to a form of quietism or a retreat from the world’s suffering should spend some time shadowing Joan Halifax, the Zen priest and anthropologist.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
Advertisement To ground their performances, Damon and Affleck each spent time in Miami with the police department, shadowing officers whose work directly informed the film.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
Additionally, the top winner, Lydia Riley, will get to spend a day shadowing a staff photographer of her choice.
—Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez, Charlotte Observer, 15 Jan. 2026
Vinicius Jr, who is often tasked with shadowing one of the opposition centre-backs, started the season well in this regard and even forced a mistake well up the pitch to create a goal for Mbappe in August’s 3-0 away win against Real Oviedo.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, a deviant killer operating in the yakuza underworld seems to be shadowing their moves.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2026
Noun
The rest of Robbie’s makeup was light and even-toned, comprised of subtle shadowing under her eyes and blushed lips.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 29 Jan. 2026
Saleh said shadowing a specific receiver tends to be easier for the cornerback doing the shadowing than the rest of the secondary, which must adjust and compensate in term of responsibility and technique.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
The British military carried out a similar shadowing operation in July, after spotting the Russian sub Novorossiysk in its territorial waters.
—CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Conversely, clinginess, shadowing, or distress during brief separations may signal a need for more support and predictability.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
The best way to explore a pivot is through low-risk experiments—side projects, volunteering, freelancing or shadowing.
—Julia Korn, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
So naturally, shadowing him with a first-rate cornerback like Gonzalez makes sense.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
Good was shot earlier this month by an ICE agent while shadowing federal law enforcement in her vehicle.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Since September, Druzhyna has spent his weekdays in Milwaukee, attending classes and shadowing other perfusionists during surgery.
—Natalie Yahr, jsonline.com, 30 Jan. 2026
By Michael Pollan Anyone who thinks the contemplative life amounts to a form of quietism or a retreat from the world’s suffering should spend some time shadowing Joan Halifax, the Zen priest and anthropologist.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
Advertisement To ground their performances, Damon and Affleck each spent time in Miami with the police department, shadowing officers whose work directly informed the film.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
Additionally, the top winner, Lydia Riley, will get to spend a day shadowing a staff photographer of her choice.
—Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez, Charlotte Observer, 15 Jan. 2026
Vinicius Jr, who is often tasked with shadowing one of the opposition centre-backs, started the season well in this regard and even forced a mistake well up the pitch to create a goal for Mbappe in August’s 3-0 away win against Real Oviedo.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, a deviant killer operating in the yakuza underworld seems to be shadowing their moves.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shadowing
Noun
-
But the pursuit of transgression for its own sake can easily derail sound judgment.—
Laura K. Field,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Two people were also arrested for allegedly engaging police in pursuit and a man who was charged with possession of narcotics with intent to sell.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Designed for sports, workouts, and outdoor activities, including extreme situations like chasing a departing plane, the glasses feature a smart camera, immersive audio, and built-in Meta AI for everyday performance.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
-
This all comes off as quite wholesome and healthy and refreshing to the large group of investors who spent the past three years bemoaning the increasing concentration of market value in a small cluster of AI-chasing tech platform giants.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
An exhibition in Beijing delving into anonymity, a key code of the house stemming back to the founder Martin Margiela’s Greta Garbo-like ways — and the face-obscuring masks that have been a feature of the brand since the Belgian maverick arrived on the international fashion scene.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The shooters were in the parked Chevrolet Equinox for three minutes and 19 seconds before getting out, carrying rifles and with fabric obscuring their faces.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated February 6,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
White shading not moving in the loop is ice on the ground in our area.—
Newsroom Meteorologist,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
-
His distance from the goal is only slightly closer than in 2023-24 and 2024-25, but the darker shading just inside the penalty spot is telling.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The letter states that Google’s generative artificial intelligence is used by CBP and that the Google Play Store has blocked ICE tracking apps.—
Laya Neelakandan,
CNBC,
7 Feb. 2026
-
However, SpaceX stresses that this tracking is no substitute for transparency on the part of satellite operators, who should remember to share data on any trajectory changes.—
David Szondy
February 07,
New Atlas,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Even so, he was discouraged from pursuing a career in music.—
Jim Dudlicek,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Prosecutors disagree, insisting that Brown recklessly communicated a threat on X (formerly Twitter) and that the First Amendment does not prevent them from pursuing the case.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Simon also said that darkening retail doors can be filled by growing businesses as Life Time health clubs, House of Sports, which is a relatively new concept from Dick’s Sporting Goods, and space can be repurposed to mixed uses, including outdoor uses.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Use room-darkening shades and blackout curtains to prevent light from seeping in to interrupt your shut-eye.—
Kylie Petty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Trump has instead argued for protecting existing owners who have watched the values of their homes climb.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Thune has been adamant about protecting the filibuster, which currently requires at least 60 senators to support bringing legislation to the Senate floor.—
Asher Notheis,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shadowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shadowing. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
