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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of umbra
During the early morning hours, the full moon will gradually slip behind the darkest part of the Earth's shadow, or umbra, and take on a reddish hue.
—
John Tufts, IndyStar, 1 Mar. 2026
During this event, the entire moon passes through the Earth's umbra (the darkest part of its shadow), causing the moon to appear darkened or reddened.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 26 Feb. 2026
Totality ends and the process reverses, with the umbra gradually retreating across the lunar surface.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
The umbra is the inner, darker shadow, where sunlight is fully blocked from reaching the Moon’s surface.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for umbra
John Tufts, IndyStar, 1 Mar. 2026
During this event, the entire moon passes through the Earth's umbra (the darkest part of its shadow), causing the moon to appear darkened or reddened.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 26 Feb. 2026
Totality ends and the process reverses, with the umbra gradually retreating across the lunar surface.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
The umbra is the inner, darker shadow, where sunlight is fully blocked from reaching the Moon’s surface.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for umbra
Recent Examples of Synonyms for umbra
Noun
-
The floating lids of storage tanks throw shadows that show how full each tank is.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
Caffeine and algae extract target puffiness and dullness, making dark spots and undereye shadows less pronounced over time.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Allure,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
After hearing these songs, the happier ones at the beginning of the album reveal bits of shadow that Rodrigo has built into them to presage what’s to come — to presage what always comes.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
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Under the shadow of a supreme leader who dictates key decisions, and cunning politicians maneuvering for power, the Iranian presidency has over the past two years been reduced to little more than administering the edicts imposed from above.—
Nadeen Ebrahim,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
The desert city has long been known for spiritual retreats, vortex hikes, and restorative getaways, but more visitors are now flocking there after dark.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
9 June 2026
-
Geomagnetic conditions could remain unsettled this evening, giving stargazers another chance if solar-wind conditions line up after dark.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
Noun
-
Petunias need at least six hours of full sun daily to keep blooming—too much shade will halt their flowers.—
Jane Kim,
The Spruce,
9 June 2026
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However, light-blocking car heat shields, often called sun shades, are an effective way to prevent UV rays from harming your car seats and other interior upholstery.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Years in the darkness Trading the tropical sun and heat for the darkness and dampness underground is unsettling, and a visit to Vịnh Mốc offers a brief glimpse of the claustrophobic conditions.—
Pavlo Fedykovych,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
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While that move threatened a major energy price shock, trade flows have since reorientated, governments have taken emergency measures, and a growing stream of oil is now sneaking out of the waterway under cover of darkness.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Don't hike at dawn, dusk, or at night, when bears are most active.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
The month marks the height of bat season, culminating in Bat Fest, when, come dusk, over a million bats take flight from the Congress Avenue Bridge.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Her father's New Year's greeting card for 2023 showed King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida garbed in somber black, which many Thais saw as confirmation of the gravity of her condition.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
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Her father's New Year’s greeting card for 2023 showed King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida garbed in somber black, which many Thais saw as confirmation of the gravity of her condition.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
From individual missions to tours aboard the ISS, video games have featured surprisingly often in the inky blackness of space.—
William Worrall,
Space.com,
30 May 2026
-
Lighting the mood Production design includes dramatic lighting effects, intensely bright (oof, that spotlight) to sudden pitch-blackness.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Umbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/umbra. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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