shadowy

adjective

shad·​owy ˈsha-dō-ē How to pronounce shadowy (audio)
-də-wē
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
shadowily adverb
shadowiness noun

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
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.
One frustrating element of Lamar’s production was difficulty seeing him in between shadowy lighting despite the Mission Control assembly of soundboards and video monitors at the back of the stadium floor. Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025 The job, offered through a shadowy group, turned Mr. Bardadim into an unwitting foot soldier for Russia as part of a multipronged campaign of sabotage attacks on targets across Europe, Lithuanian investigators say. Tomas Dapkus, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025 Details in light and shadowy areas are sharp, though the Pixel 8 Pro renders a bit more detail here. PC Magazine, 10 Apr. 2025 The Dark Money Game investigates the shadowy world of political donations and fundraising 15 years after the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which enabled unlimited spending by hidden sources on political campaigns. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shadowy

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of shadowy was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Shadowy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shadowy. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

shadowy

adjective
shad·​owy ˈshad-ə-wē How to pronounce shadowy (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on shadowy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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