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
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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
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Example Sentences
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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 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 big one is the penumbra, and the smaller one inside it is the umbra.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2025
Sixth contact is when the moon leaves the penumbra and the eclipse is officially over.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penumbra
William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 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 big one is the penumbra, and the smaller one inside it is the umbra.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2025
Sixth contact is when the moon leaves the penumbra and the eclipse is officially over.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penumbra
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penumbra
Noun
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From data leakage to shadow engineering, no-code, robotic process automation (RPA) and AI apps create an expanding attack surface that is beyond the reach of standard security controls.—
Yair Finzi,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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Lisa Stardust reveals how this post-Mercury and Venus shadow period will affect each zodiac sign Comments Mercury and Venus retrograde are finally coming to an end!—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
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But during the visit, Melania Trump mostly wore a grim face — along with a black dress and lace veil, in accordance with the dress code for a papal visit, according to media accounts at the time.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2025
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Typically, the pontiff’s body is placed in a casket made of three materials—cypress, lead, and walnut—and then covered with a silk veil before being sealed and transported under the basilica to the Vatican Grottoes, where the remains of almost all his predecessors rest.—
Paolo Armelli,
Vogue,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The ornate design will look great will all your suitcase mainstays, plus shoppers have their choice of seven springy shades, from red to sage green.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Apr. 2025
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Keep reading to learn about the four main paint shades that pros would rather not see in a hallway, and why.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Rates for home loans dropped slightly, but may not go much lower as uncertainty from Washington shrouds the housing market.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2025
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The sun is blotted out by a new 91-foot tall, stadium-like condominium that curves around the north end of the island and shrouds Gordon’s Building 3 in shadow part of the day.—
Linda Robertson,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The text gets smaller and quieter in the next three panels, followed by three extraordinary solid panels of inky blackness.—
Art Spiegelman,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2025
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In each image, a patch of purple with neon pink veins floats in the blackness of space, surrounded by flecks of light.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA TODAY,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The male figure wears a simple toga, while the woman wears a large cloak over a tunic and many accessories.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
2 Apr. 2025
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The white marble sculpture, which is missing a head and arms, appears to depict a woman's torso draped in a loose dress or cloak.—
Leah Sarnoff,
ABC News,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Best Time To See The Full Worm Moon Rise In the wake of the excitement of the total lunar eclipse, don’t overlook the opportunity to view the just-off full moon rise in the east during dusk the following evening.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
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The deck outside the main living space offers jaw-dropping views, the scenery shifting from the golden glow of sunrise to the soft hues of dusk.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
10 Mar. 2025
Noun
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As tariffs cast a pall across business sectors including media, the streaming giant may be Wall Street‘s top stock pick to weather the macroeconomic storm.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2025
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The lack of certainty in the business environment for many companies was expected to cast a pall over some investment banking activities, including IPO listings and merger advice.—
Hugh Son,
CNBC,
11 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penumbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penumbra. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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