shadowy

[ shad-oh-ee ]

adjective

, shad·ow·i·er, shad·ow·i·est.

1. resembling a shadow in faintness, slightness, etc.:

   shadowy outlines.

2. unsubstantial, unreal, or illusory:

   shadowy preoccupations.

3. abounding in shadow; shady:

   a shadowy path.

4. enveloped in shadow.
5. casting a shadow.

shadowy

/ ˈʃædəʊɪ /

adjective

1. full of shadows; dark; shady
2. resembling a shadow in faintness; vague
3. illusory or imaginary
4. mysterious or secretive

   a shadowy underworld figure

Derived Forms

• ˈshadowiness, noun

Other Words From

• shadow·i·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shadowy¹

First recorded in 1325–75, shadowy is from the Middle English word shadewy. See shadow, -y ¹

Example Sentences

Perhaps the Kraken is something less shadowy, less slithery, less imaginary.

From Washington Post

As health care workers fight heroically against one invisible enemy, we must not be blindsided by another shadowy foe.

From Fortune

The shadowy figure speaks only on the site 8kun, a successor to the now-closed 8chan, but the information for years spread almost instantly across mainstream social media platforms, powered by those analyzing Q’s pronouncements.

From Washington Post

An already shadowy world is getting darker, and answers are becoming harder to come by.

From MIT Technology Review

For example, dark energy, the shadowy stuff that causes the universe to expand at an accelerating rate, might behave differently than scientists thought.

From Science News

His weeknight program, “Coast-to-Coast AM,” discussed aliens, paranormal activity, and shadowy government cover-ups.

From The Daily Beast

Those that do survive, or are lucky enough to have escaped infection, meet a shadowy future.

From The Daily Beast

Both shadowy ultranationalist groups have strong ties with the Turkish intelligence services.

From The Daily Beast

The Federal Reserve, which was just caught playing footsie with Goldman Sachs, is as shadowy as it is powerful.

From The Daily Beast

Get to know The Gathering, a shadowy, powerful network of hard-right funders meeting Thursday in Florida.

From The Daily Beast

The approach of these mechanical monsters opens up vistas thronged with shadowy forebodings.

From Project Gutenberg

Outside the circle of light in which she sat, the large dining-room looked solemn and shadowy.

From Project Gutenberg

And a hint of mothering contentment stole sweetly over him behind this shadowy yet genuine consolation.

From Project Gutenberg

As they look him in his face and his shadowy wings cover them, nature recoils and would flee from him.

From Project Gutenberg

Black Hood stood in that shadowy stairway and was himself like one of the shadows—watching, listening, waiting for his time.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dark
• ghostly
• shady