SHADOW: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for SHADOW?

Need another word that means the same as “shadow”? Find 65 synonyms and 30 related words for “shadow” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Shadow” are: shadower, tail, tincture, trace, vestige, apparition, fantasm, phantasm, phantasma, phantom, dark, darkness, silhouette, outline, shape, contour, profile, shade, shadowiness, gathering darkness, dimness, twilight, cloud, black cloud, pall, slightest bit, scrap, shred, crumb, particle, ounce, atom, iota, scintilla, jot, whit, grain, tittle, jot or tittle, hint, suggestion, suspicion, ghost, glimmer, flicker, inferior version, poor imitation, apology, travesty, constant companion, second self, siamese twin, follower, shade off, dwarf, overshadow, cast a shadow over, envelop in shadow, block off the light to, follow, trail, track, dog someone's footsteps, keep watch on

Shadow as a Noun

Definitions of "Shadow" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “shadow” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• A premonition of something adverse.
• A dominating and pervasive presence.
• A dark patch or area on a surface.
• Partial or complete darkness, especially as produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
• The opposition counterpart of a government minister or ministry.
• A region of opacity on a radiograph.
• Shade within clear boundaries.
• An unilluminated area.
• A spy employed to follow someone and report their movements.
• A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
• The shaded part of a picture.
• An expression of perplexity or sadness.
• A weak or inferior remnant or version of something.
• A person secretly following and observing another.
• Used in reference to a position of relative inferiority or obscurity.
• Something existing in perception only.
• An inseparable attendant or companion.
• Used in reference to proximity, ominous oppressiveness, or sadness and gloom.
• An inseparable companion.
• Used in reference to something insubstantial or fleeting.
• An indication that something has been present.
• Refuge from danger or observation.
• The slightest trace of something.
• A person that accompanies someone in their daily activities at work in order to gain experience at or insight into a job.

Synonyms of "Shadow" as a noun (53 Words)

apology	An expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone. It was an apology for a meal.
apparition	An act of appearing or becoming visible unexpectedly. I was recalled to the present by the apparition of a frightening specter.
atom	Atomic particles as a source of nuclear energy. Eight atom hockey teams.
black cloud	British chemist who identified carbon dioxide and who formulated the concepts of specific heat and latent heat (1728-1799.
cloud	An opaque patch within a transparent substance. Once you are logged in to your cloud storage space you can upload files to it and share them with others.
constant companion	A number representing a quantity assumed to have a fixed value in a specified mathematical context.
contour	A line drawn on a map connecting points of equal height. Challenges that have shaped the contours of European integration.
crumb	An objectionable or contemptible person. She brushed some cake crumbs off her dress.
dark	The time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside. Lights and darks are juxtaposed arbitrarily to create a sense of shallow relief.
darkness	Having a dark or somber color. The forces of darkness.
dimness	The property of lights or sounds that lack brilliance or are reduced in intensity.
fantasm	A ghostly appearing figure.
flicker	A tiny movement. A flicker of a smile passed across her face.
follower	Someone who travels behind or pursues another. He is a keen follower of football.
gathering darkness	The act of gathering something.
ghost	An apparition of a dead person which is believed to appear or become manifest to the living, typically as a nebulous image. The building is haunted by the ghost of a monk.
glimmer	A flash of light (especially reflected light. There is one glimmer of hope for Becky.
grain	A grainy appearance of a photograph or negative which is in proportion to the size of the emulsion particles composing it. A stone of coarse grain.
hint	A just detectable amount. He has given no hint of his views.
inferior version	One of lesser rank or station or quality.
iota	The ninth star in a constellation. Nothing she said seemed to make an iota of difference.
jot	A brief (and hurriedly handwritten) note. I have yet to see one jot of evidence.
jot or tittle	A brief (and hurriedly handwritten) note.
ounce	A unit of weight equal to one sixteenth of a pound or 16 drams or 28.349 grams. Melt three ounces of butter in a large frying pan.
outline	The contours or bounds of an object. The outlines of dockside warehouses standing sharp on the skyline.
pall	An ecclesiastical pallium. Torture and murder have cast a pall of terror over the villages.
particle	Any of numerous subatomic constituents of the physical world that interact with each other including electrons neutrinos photons and alpha particles. Tiny particles of dust.
phantasm	A ghostly appearing figure. The cart seemed to glide like a terrible phantasm.
phantasma	Phantasm.
phantom	Something existing in perception only. A phantom conspiracy.
poor imitation	People without possessions or wealth (considered as a group.
profile	A short article giving a description of a person or organization. In soft rocks a profile drawn normally to the beach would show a concave form comparable with the long profile of a river.
scintilla	A tiny trace or spark of a specified quality or feeling. A scintilla of doubt.
scrap	Discarded metal for reprocessing. There was not a scrap left.
second self	A speech seconding a motion.
shade	A lampshade. Maria s eyes darkened in shade.
shadower	A spy employed to follow someone and report their movements.
shadowiness	Relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body.
shape	The state of good health especially in the phrases in condition or in shape or out of condition or out of shape. She liked the shape of his nose.
shred	A small piece of cloth or paper. We have not a shred of evidence to go on.
siamese twin	Either of two offspring born at the same time from the same pregnancy.
silhouette	A representation of someone or something showing the shape and outline only, typically coloured in solid black. She paused to see its silhouette against the dimming sky.
slightest bit	A deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval.
suggestion	Persuasion formulated as a suggestion. Here are some suggestions for tackling the problem.
suspicion	An impression that something might be the case. Her activities were regarded with suspicion by the headmistress.
tail	A tailcoat or a man s formal evening suit with a tailcoat. The slates are dressed with the bevelled tail and edge characteristic of thick square stone roofing.
tincture	A substances that colors metals. A bottle containing tincture of iodine.
tittle	A tiny amount or part of something. The rules have not been altered one jot or tittle since.
trace	A physical change in the brain presumed to be caused by a process of learning or memory. There wasn t a trace of evidence for the claim.
travesty	A comedy characterized by broad satire and improbable situations. The absurdly lenient sentence is a travesty of justice.
twilight	The period of the evening when twilight is visible between daylight and darkness. He was in the twilight of his career.
vestige	The smallest amount. He waited patiently but without a vestige of sympathy.
whit	A tiny or scarcely detectable amount. The last whit of warmth was drawn off by the setting sun.

Usage Examples of "Shadow" as a noun

• Her faithful shadow, a Yorkshire terrier called Heathcliffe.
• He felt secure in his father's shadow.
• Trees cast long shadows.
• No matter where Johnson went, his shadow stayed with him.
• A shadow over his happiness.
• This fine-looking, commanding man had become a shadow of his former self.
• A shadow crossed Maria's face.
• A freedom that was more shadow than substance.
• He received little recognition working in the shadow of his father.
• The shadow of war fell across Europe.
• Shadows on his lungs.
• The north side of the cathedral was deep in shadow.
• Her face was pale and there were shadows under her eyes.
• The shadow Chancellor.
• Only one shadow lay over Sally's life.
• She knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was lying.
• A stranger slowly approached from the shadows.
• The poor child was his mother's shadow.
• He lived in the shadow of his father.

Shadow as a Verb

Definitions of "Shadow" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “shadow” as a verb can have the following definitions:

• Follow and observe (someone) closely and secretly.
• Accompany (someone) in their daily activities at work in order to gain experience at or insight into a job.
• (of an opposition politician) be the counterpart of (a government minister or a ministry.
• Cast a shadow over.
• Make appear small by comparison.
• Envelop in shadow; cast a shadow over.
• Follow, usually without the person's knowledge.

Synonyms of "Shadow" as a verb (12 Words)

block off the light to	Interrupt the normal function of by means of anesthesia.
cast a shadow over	Move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment.
dog someone's footsteps	Go after with the intent to catch.
dwarf	Make appear small by comparison. The insurance industry is still battling with a number of challenges that have dwarfed its growth.
envelop in shadow	Enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering.
follow	Follow with the eyes or the mind. When he lectures I cannot follow.
keep watch on	Look after; be the keeper of; have charge of.
overshadow	Appear more prominent or important than. It is easy to let this feeling of tragedy overshadow his story.
shade	Represent the effect of shade or shadow on. She shaded in the outline of a chimney.
shade off	Cast a shadow over.
track	Of wheels run so that the back ones are exactly in the track of the front ones. The camera eventually tracked away.
trail	Apply (slip) through a nozzle or spout to decorate ceramic ware. Her voice trailed away.

Usage Examples of "Shadow" as a verb

• He had been up all night shadowing a team of poachers.
• The market is shadowed by St Margaret's church.
• A hood shadowed her face.
• He formerly helped to shadow the Foreign Office.
• The placement might involve shadowing a manager.
• The police are shadowing her.

Associations of "Shadow" (30 Words)

arbor	Tree (as opposed to shrub. The arbor provided a shady resting place in the park.
awning	A canopy made of canvas to shelter people or things from rain or sun.
behind	A kick that sends the ball over a behind line or a touch that sends it between the inner posts scoring one point. A company that has been run behindhand for years.
black	Blackcurrant cordial. A mug of black coffee.
cave	Capitulate or submit under pressure cave in. They say they cave for the adventure challenge and physical exercise.
crayfish	Small freshwater decapod crustacean that resembles a lobster.
darkness	The partial or total absence of light. The forces of darkness.
dim	Make dim by comparison or conceal. The lights dimmed and the curtain rose.
dusky	Used in names of animals with dark coloration e g dusky dolphin dusky warbler. Gold earrings gleamed against her dusky cheeks.
fading	Weakening in force or intensity.
fin	Equip a car with fins. We finned along the side of the wreck.
flipper	The flat broad limb of aquatic animals specialized for swimming.
impenetrable	Permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter. Her expression was impenetrable.
joggle	Fasten or join with a joggle. The lurch and joggle of the car.
lion	The lion as an emblem e g of English or Scottish royalty or as a charge in heraldry.
lobster	The flesh of the lobster as food. She ordered lobster and a glass of white wine.
mane	A person’s long flowing hair. He had a mane of white hair.
posterior	A person’s buttocks. A date posterior to the first Reform Bill.
rear	Located in or toward the back or rear. The car s rear window.
ringtail	North American raccoon.
shade	Represent the effect of shade or shadow on. After several trials he mixed the shade of pink that she wanted.
shadowy	Insubstantial; unreal. They were attacked by a swarm of shadowy ethereal forms.
soot	Cover or clog something with soot. You have previously sooted the underside of their plate by holding it over a candle.
sun	Expose to the rays of the sun or affect by exposure to the sun. These herbs suffer when sunned.
sunshade	A handheld collapsible source of shade.
tail	Provide with a tail. They went to their favourite cafe Owen and Sally tailed along.
tenebrous	Dark; shadowy or obscure. The tenebrous spiral staircase of the self.
vestige	An indication that something has been present. The last vestiges of colonialism.
wiggle	The act of wiggling. A wiggle on a chart.