penumbra

noun

pə-ˈnəm-brə How to pronounce penumbra (audio)
Definition of penumbranext
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 First, the moon enters the faint outer shadow of the Earth, or the penumbra, where dimming is subtle; this is the penumbral eclipse. — Stefanie Waldek, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Mar. 2026 As the moon moves into Earth’s outer shadow, called the penumbra, the dimming is subtle. — Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 2 Mar. 2026 The Moon moves right to left, passing through the penumbra and umbra, leaving in its wake an eclipse diagram with the times at various stages of the eclipse. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Mar. 2026 During many eclipse seasons, the moon merely skims Earth's penumbra and umbra. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for penumbra
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penumbra
  1. shadow
  2. veil
  3. shade
  4. shroud
  5. blackness
  6. cloak
  7. dusk
  8. pall
Noun
  • The bill had sought to sanction Russian officials, banks and a shadow fleet of tankers that keeps Russian energy moving.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • But Krasner has long been eclipsed by the shadow of her husband, even after his death in 1956.
    — David Morgan, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of shadow
Noun
  • How to identify deadly mushrooms One of the most noticeable features of any mushroom in the Amanita genus is the universal veil, a membranous tissue from which the fungi emerge.
    — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Tina took the witness stand wearing a veil and black glasses to hide her injuries.
    — Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of veil
Noun
  • The concealer, which comes in 25 shades, goes on top to add a subtle glow that plays up the color of the eyes.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The nails apply just like traditional press-ons; to swap shades during wear, users simply select a hue in the app and insert the tip of each nail into an accompanying wand, which delivers a small charge of power to change colors.
    — Nina Derwin, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of shade
Noun
  • With its magnetic shroud shoelace cover and dressy patent leather toe, the Air Jordan 16 was conceptualized in 2001 during an unusual period of Jordan’s legacy.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Scaffolding was being taken down Tuesday after workers over Labor Day weekend removed a shroud that had obscured the work.
    — Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of shroud
Noun
  • Nori of a perfect blackness, death-like, without the green glints of more common seaweed.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The surf was raging, completely enveloping the craft with only the swaying masts visible in the blackness of the night.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of blackness
Noun
  • This natural history is reflected in the city's grand cloak of Art Deco, neoclassical, and Romanesque architecture, the buildings' façades swathed in stone and iron detailing and girded by skeletons of steel.
    — Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Alleged violations included wearing colorful scarves or makeup, leaving hair visible or not wearing a chador, an all-enveloping cloak-like garment.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of cloak
Noun
  • Binoculars will give you a superb view at dusk, particularly along the terminator — the boundary between lunar day and night.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Just before dusk, four or five does walked under the tree, and then a four-point buck followed, stopping beneath me to rub his antlers on a bush.
    — Al Dawson, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of dusk
Noun
  • The Republican candidate has been hobbling through the race, with lackluster fundraising and a long history of personal and legal scandals casting a pall over his candidacy.
    — Matthew Choi, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The play cast a pall over the rest of the game, but Oregon backup quarterback Dylan Raiola managed to throw for 289 yards and two touchdowns against USC’s defense.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of pall

Browse Nearby Words

penultimate
penumbra
penumbrae
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Penumbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penumbra. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on penumbra

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about penumbra

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of jilt

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All