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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shadowy
That’s not the only documentation of this shadowy data collection.
—
Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 29 Jan. 2026
Also questionably handled is a psychologically illuminating subplot around Hana’s family history of weight problems, teased with some needlessly shadowy ambuigity ahead of a surprise reveal.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
Rahal emerges from his desk, tall, with a shadowy scruff, tousled brown locks, and piercing blue eyes.
—Sophia Herring, Vanity Fair, 28 Jan. 2026
Dell is finally good at something—but as her behavior becomes riskier and a shadowy troll threatens to expose her dark past, Dell must reckon with what her digital life ignores, and what real redemption means.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shadowy
Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 29 Jan. 2026
Also questionably handled is a psychologically illuminating subplot around Hana’s family history of weight problems, teased with some needlessly shadowy ambuigity ahead of a surprise reveal.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
Rahal emerges from his desk, tall, with a shadowy scruff, tousled brown locks, and piercing blue eyes.
—Sophia Herring, Vanity Fair, 28 Jan. 2026
Dell is finally good at something—but as her behavior becomes riskier and a shadowy troll threatens to expose her dark past, Dell must reckon with what her digital life ignores, and what real redemption means.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shadowy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shadowy
Adjective
-
Young Rod went off to France by himself, and on a visit to Chartres, standing in the nave of the cathedral, he was overcome by a vague but powerful sense that God was real.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Some scholars suspect that his race was deliberately kept vague and note that, at the time, even those from other European countries like Italy or Spain would have been discriminated against by Brits.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Also, Wasserman in recent weeks assured individuals at his company and LA28, that besides the 2002 humanitarian trip with Epstein, there was nothing more to come from his involvement with the shady financier and his procurer Maxwell.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Some turned to a shady, largely unregulated corner of the financial world.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
To observe the faintest and most distant objects in the universe, telescopes need dark, dry and stable skies, conditions that are increasingly rare on Earth.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Kabocha is usually dark green or orange with faint stripes or bumps on the outside, with vibrant orange flesh on the inside.—
Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner,
Martha Stewart,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
That might not be a huge deal with temperature forecasts in the mid-60s, but during a long game, teams prefer the shaded side even in moderate weather.—
Chad Graff,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Floor-to-ceiling glass doors slide open onto either shaded balconies, patios with hot tubs, or the beach, depending on the room type.—
Lauren Harano,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But Moltbook illustrates how hazy that vision really is.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The couple meets again a purposefully fuzzy period of time later, disagreeing on the hazy details.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shadowy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shadowy. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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