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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 penumbra
The eclipse begins with the penumbral phase, when the moon enters Earth's outer shadow, called the penumbra.
—
William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
The entire moon is still in the penumbra, and the brightness has not entirely returned.
—Jeremy Tanner, The Hill, 8 Mar. 2025
The entire eclipse spans 366 minutes (just over six hours), from the moon entering Earth’s penumbra to leaving it.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
The eclipse begins with the penumbral phase, when the moon enters Earth's outer shadow, called the penumbra.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penumbra
William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
The entire moon is still in the penumbra, and the brightness has not entirely returned.
—Jeremy Tanner, The Hill, 8 Mar. 2025
The entire eclipse spans 366 minutes (just over six hours), from the moon entering Earth’s penumbra to leaving it.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
The eclipse begins with the penumbral phase, when the moon enters Earth's outer shadow, called the penumbra.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penumbra
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penumbra
Noun
-
With mighty Yankee Aaron Judge huffing and puffing at the plate, a lone insistent chant emerged from a Dodger fan lurking in the shadows.—
Bill Plaschke,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2025
-
President Trump's shadow is cast over this Sunday's presidential election runoff election, with polls showing a tight race between Warsaw’s mayor, Rafał Trzaskowski, and his conservative challenger, Karol Nawrocki.—
Chris Massaro,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2025
Noun
-
Lovato, meanwhile, was a vision in her custom Vivienne Westwood wedding gown and cathedral-style veil.—
Erin Clack,
People.com,
27 May 2025
-
The bride completed the look with a long cathedral veil.—
Ilaria Perrotta,
Glamour,
26 May 2025
Noun
-
Lights with a lower temperature tend to be a warmer, more yellow shade that may look dim in dark garages.—
Molly Blanco,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 June 2025
-
The triple-barrel tool and its aesthetic pink shade have attracted more than 1.4 billion views on TikTok.—
Claire Sullivan,
Footwear News,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
Cobwebs surround a mower's engine shroud in the back of the garage.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 May 2025
-
Publicly vilified for freezing during the massacre, Gerald, an ex-school resource officer, lives under a shroud of shame, questioning his will to survive.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
The 40-second clip shows the Kuiper satellites separating from their launch vehicle in the blackness of space following liftoff Monday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
3 May 2025
-
After a surge of spring storms, Mr. Jacobs descended into freezing blackness for the third time in late February.—
Sruthi Gurudev Jules Jacobs,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The carving shows a woman standing with hands clasped in prayer, in a cloak covered in stars.—
Anna Ortiz,
Chicago Tribune,
31 May 2025
-
Will both big-budget tentpoles fare better in winter cloaks?—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
25 May 2025
Noun
-
An elusive apex predator was recorded casually strolling among homes at dusk in a California neighborhood, police said.—
Brooke Baitinger,
Sacbee.com,
23 May 2025
-
Lake Austin sits minutes away for a paddle or a dusk cruise.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
The report casts a pall over Friday's all-important government nonfarm payrolls report, which economists currently expect to show an increase of 125,000 jobs for May, according to a Dow Jones survey.—
Sean Conlon,Sarah Min,
CNBC,
3 June 2025
-
Several separate but interconnected developments over the past two weeks destabilized the legislature and cast a pall over the regular session’s final days.—
Jonathan Shorman,
Kansas City Star,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penumbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penumbra. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share