earth tone

noun

: any of various rich colors containing some brown
When fashion becomes elaborate, makeup colors take a quieter stance. Earth tones in particular—mustard, cocoa, taupe, and wheat—are well suited to this monochromatic look.Anna Quinn
From the mellow earth tones of old stone walls to the brilliant colors of space-age titanium, the bodegas of Spain's most prestigious wine region embody a dynamic culture of architecture …Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen
earth-toned adjective

Examples of earth tone in a Sentence

She wears a lot of earth tones.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Contributor Erika Owen and I both own and love Quince’s linen sheets, which come in an impressive range of prints and earth tones to fit any bedroom aesthetic. Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 29 May 2026 Each new style adds neutral and drab earth tones to the 2000s-era running shoe, which has been quietly upgraded with high-performance technology. Riley Jones, Footwear News, 27 May 2026 Rooms are done in rich fabrics in warm earth tones and dressed up with elements of local design, such as reproductions of Pavel Janak’s angular Cubist timber chairs and elegant chaise longues from designer Adolf Loos. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 May 2026 The palette is simple, veering from cozy earth tones to bright whites. Angela Tafoya, Vogue, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for earth tone

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of earth tone was in 1973

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Earth tone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earth%20tone. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

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