1
as in shadows
a time or place of little or no light
strange noises were coming from the wooded umbra beyond our campfire
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2
as in shadow
partial darkness due to the obstruction of light rays
during a solar eclipse observers located within the umbra experience a complete blocking of the sun by the moon
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Recent Examples of umbra
During a total lunar eclipse, the moon passes through the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, known as the umbra.
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Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Sep. 2025
The umbra is a darker inner shadow and the penumbra is a fainter outer shadow, according to NASA.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Sep. 2025
During totality, when the moon is fully inside Earth’s darkest shadow, its umbra, the only sunlight that can reach the lunar surface is traveling through the Earth’s atmosphere.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
During totality, the entire moon is inside Earth's umbra, turning a deep red or orange color.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for umbra
Recent Examples of Synonyms for umbra
Noun
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The changes also allowed Mingo to step out of the shadows cast by André DeShields and Richard Pryor, who played the Wiz in the original Broadway show and 1978 movie adaptation, and make the role his own.—
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In it, prisoners trapped inside a cave perceive the world only through shadows cast by outside objects.—
Noun
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The location allows long-duration monitoring without interference from Earth’s shadow.—
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In that global blockbuster series from Netflix, Lee’s Front Man is the opposite of Man-su, a powerful figure in the shadows who oversees a deadly game in which participants literally die in pursuit of prize money.—
Noun
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Dick Hickock was fair and twenty-eight, Perry Smith dark and thirty-one—close in age to their chronicler.—
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The system will also be able to auto adjust to different ambient lighting needs, ensuring optimum picture quality for daytime or after-dark spaces.—
Noun
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Available in 10 wear-with-anything shades, including black, army green, and brown, the shacket has earned praise from shoppers who call out its high-quality construction and trendy yet comfortable design in their reviews.—
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For more swoon-worthy savings, look no further than the Sam Edelman Women’s Talia Slip-on Shoes, which are a breeze to get on thanks to adjustable velcro straps, and also come in a vacation-ready French Burgundy shade.—
Noun
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Why were they drawn into this particular darkness?—
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The resident explained how citizens have been waiting for the cover of darkness to take to the streets in Iran’s larger cities.—
Noun
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At the Art Ovation Hotel, the rooftop pool and bar offer easy access to scenery, but Sage, with its 360-degree views, is hands down the best spot in town for a proper dusk happy hour.—
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Grab it on sale in jungle vine, red jam, blackberry jam, Parisian navy, and dusk rose.—
Noun
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Ariana Grande stunned in a dramatic black Vivienne Westwood Couture ball gown that featured draping velvet straps tied in bows at the shoulders.—
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Grab it in olive green, creamy white, or classic black.—
Noun
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Passengers get to see Earth against the blackness of space and experience a few minutes of weightlessness.—
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The thrill of pushing the pace on terrain that remained shrouded in blackness until illuminated two seconds before our wheels were suddenly navigating its rocks and cliffs and cactus pushed all else from the mental spotlight.—
Cite this Entry
“Umbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/umbra. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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