Shadowy
ˈʃædəʊi
Definitions
Resembling or full of shadows; dark, indistinct, or vague; causing or casting a shadow.
ˈʃædəʊi
Giving shade or gloom; indistinctly seen or known; mysterious or vague
The shadowy forest made the hiker feel uneasy.
💡 Simply: Imagine a dark alley where you can't see everything clearly. That's shadowy! It's like something is hidden or not well-defined.
👶 For kids: Like being in a place with lots of shadows, where it's hard to see things clearly!
More Examples
There were shadowy figures lurking in the background.
The investigation revealed a shadowy network of corruption.
The detective was determined to expose the shadowy dealings of the company.
How It's Used
"The shadowy figures in the alley made me nervous."
"A shadowy organization was rumored to be controlling the outcome of the election."
"The villain moved through the dark, shadowy corridors of the castle."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
shadowy figure
A person or thing that is mysterious, indistinct, or not fully known.
"The shadowy figure disappeared into the crowd."
shadowy past
A history characterized by secrecy or questionable behavior.
"The detective was uncovering the politician's shadowy past."
From "shadow" + "-y". Shadow derives from Old English "sceadu", related to Old High German "scato" and Latin "umbra". The suffix "-y" indicates 'having the quality of'.
The word "shadowy" has been used since the 17th century and its usage has remained relatively consistent, often associated with secrecy, darkness, and obscurity.
Memory tip
Think of something you can't quite make out in the dim light. That's shadowy.
Word Origin
"A dark area or shape."