UMBRA Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

umbra

noun

ˈəm-brə

Definition of umbra

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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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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of umbra For a few fleeting minutes, observers inside the moon’s dark central shadow — the umbra — will see the sun completely covered, revealing the spectacular solar corona and plunging landscapes into an eerie twilight. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026 The full eclipse, or totality, begins when the moon moves completely into the umbra, turning its usually white surface a dim reddish-orange. — Stefanie Waldek, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Mar. 2026 The part of the moon inside the umbra appears very dark. — Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 2 Mar. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for umbra

Recent Examples of Synonyms for umbra

Noun

Anderson’s character makes her entrance by suddenly popping out from the shadows, startling Kris.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026
Towering live oaks draped with Spanish moss lined the neighborhood, casting long shadows across the pavement as the sun began to set.

— Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of shadows

Noun

Then there are shadow fleets, used often by countries under sanctions.

— Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
The umbral shadow will first appear as a small semicircle of shadow close to the dark expanses of Oceanus Procellarum (the Ocean of Storms) and Mare Humorum on the moon's southwestern edge, before swiftly spreading to swallow the nearby moonscape.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of shadow

Noun

The film works by remembering the Disney dark ride version of Spielberg that helped launch the filmmaker to fame in the first place.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026
Temperature control requires some attention, as the trailers can heat up quickly in direct sunlight and cool dramatically after dark.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of dark

Noun

Engineers will then study how the compact nuclear heating system performs during roughly 14 Earth days of darkness.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026
The effects would be especially disruptive in Antarctica, where observatories take advantage of the continent’s remote, dry conditions and the round-the-clock darkness of polar winter to study subtle signals such as the cosmic microwave background.

— Arielle Frommer, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of darkness

Noun

People who are at high risk are urged to be especially cautious outdoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquito activity is highest.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
For many, Menorca, one of Spain’s Balearic Islands, is synonymous with summer which makes Son Ermità like the thrill of the first dip in the sea in the morning or the joy of the last swim at dusk.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of dusk

Noun

In my tests with SDR input, none of the preset modes handled shadow detail well, with Movie mode earning the lowest marks on that score by merging dark areas into a solid black in some scenes.

— M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 22 Aug. 2026
Its range leans in a bolder direction, from floral motifs to more Deco-style designs like the MetroChic collection which incorporates geometric black-and-gold details.

— Angela Tafoya, Architectural Digest, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of black

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ululating

umbra

umbrage

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“Umbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/umbra. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of umbra

noun

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