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
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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of penumbra
The penumbra, or outside edge of the Earth's shadow, covers the remaining portion of the moon.
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Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 13 Sep. 2024
The moon will begin touching the outer shadow of the Earth (known as the penumbra) at 8:41 p.m. ET.
—Diana Leyva, The Courier-Journal, 3 Sep. 2024
The blanket presidential immunity ordained in Trump v. United States was not even discernable in the penumbras, emanations or subtext of the Constitution.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 2 Aug. 2024
This legal theology, conjured from the penumbras and emanations of past antiregulatory decisions, insists that sizable regulations require patently-impossible-to-acquire congressional authorization.
—The Editors, Scientific American, 10 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for penumbra 
Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 13 Sep. 2024
The moon will begin touching the outer shadow of the Earth (known as the penumbra) at 8:41 p.m. ET.
—Diana Leyva, The Courier-Journal, 3 Sep. 2024
The blanket presidential immunity ordained in Trump v. United States was not even discernable in the penumbras, emanations or subtext of the Constitution.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 2 Aug. 2024
This legal theology, conjured from the penumbras and emanations of past antiregulatory decisions, insists that sizable regulations require patently-impossible-to-acquire congressional authorization.
—The Editors, Scientific American, 10 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for penumbra
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penumbra
Noun
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Play the Sun In a perfect scenario, your decoys will be in the sun (so ducks can see them well) and your hide will be in the shadows.Joe Arterburn, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
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Then blitz a weakside linebacker who is lurking in the shadows.Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
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As fundamentalists seize control, the women remove their veils, speak about their intimate hopes, loves and disappointments, their femininity and their search for a place in an increasingly oppressive society.Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024
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In fact, this ultra-fine mist is developed to boost the radiance of your look, thanks to its thin, vinyl-like veil of polymers that transparently hold cosmetics in place while still feeling breathable on skin.Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Take cheddar, for instance — it can be found in both shades.Vox Staff, Vox, 5 Nov. 2024
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The easiest way to play with berry makeup is to do so by tinting the lips in rich grape and raspberry shades.Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Published in Nature Astronomy, the study reveals that there may be a shroud of gas around every galaxy that stretches up to a million light years.Jamie Carter, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024
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That tragedy will always hang over the film like a shroud.Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2024
Noun
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Instead of gentle concentric circles, gleaming finishes, or a mesmerizing light show, the ProArt P16 meets us with inky blackness.PCMAG, PCMAG, 13 Oct. 2024
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The Mid-Credits Scene — the King in Black The central plot of The Last Dance revolves around Venom trying to stop the creator of the symbiotes, Knull (Andy Serkis), from escaping his celestial prison and returning all of existence to the Void, the blackness that predates the universe.Richard Newby, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Meanwhile, Lisa’s nude Mugler dress draped over her head like a cloak.Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2024
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The sapphic pop star arrived at the VMAs in a billowing floor length black dress and velvety green cloak, complete with a cross necklace.Quispe López, Them, 11 Sep. 2024
Noun
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Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed 40 people around the eastern city of Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley on Wednesday, according to the country’s health ministry, and at dusk more strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs.Reuters, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
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Shadow details are maintained while looking dark, and in one scene of a valley at dusk, the lights of houses twinkle brightly without showing any light bloom.PCMAG, PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Yet, the Biden Administration continues to push for this pause indicating that a pall of uncertainty hangs over efforts to export more LNG, including to our EU trading partners.Wayne Winegarden, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
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Instead, a helicopter crashed through the stained glass window and cast a pall on the ceremony, prompting everyone in attendance to spring into action and help the victims.The Deadline TV Team, Deadline, 18 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Penumbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penumbra. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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