shadowy

1 of 2

adjective

shad·​owy ˈsha-dō-ē 

-də-wē

1

a

: of the nature of or resembling a shadow

b

: faintly perceptible : indistinct

2

: being in or obscured by shadow

deep shadowy interiors

3

a

: shady sense 1

b

: shady sense 3

shadowily

ˈsha-də-wə-lē 

adverb

shadowiness

ˈsha-də-wē-nəs 

noun

shadowiness

2 of 2

noun

shad·​ow·​i·​ness -dəw|ēnə̇s 

-dō|, 

|in-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being shadowy

the shadowiness of night

that shadowiness … you find in people whose lives are part of the social organism

—W. S. Maugham

Synonyms of shadowy

Adjective

• vague
• faint
• hazy

Examples of shadowy in a Sentence

Adjective

She was pursued by a shadowy figure.

He had only a shadowy idea of what they wanted him to do.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The song is filled with medieval antisemitism about shadowy figures, dark money and power as the force controlling the media and the government. — Kenneth L. Marcus, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026

Set in the modern Scottish Highlands, Laird is an epic family saga in which a proud Scot defies a shadowy American billionaire (Sarsgaard) hellbent on buying up the glens. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026

Cocokind’s Revitalizing Eye Cream is like a refreshing glass of cool water for exhausted eyes, designed to reduce the appearance of bags and shadowy circles by locking in hydration, soothing skin, and helping depuff. — Mariana Best, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2026

The shadowy pharmaceutical and biotech conglomerate has loomed over Resident Evil since the original game, conducting the viral experiments that unleash much of the franchise’s horror. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

shadowy

adjective

shad·​owy ˈshad-ə-wē 

1

a

: not realistic

shadowy dreams of glory

b

: dim as a shadow

the shadowy area between good and bad

2

: full of shade

a shadowy lane