pale by comparison
idiom
: to seem less important, good, serious, etc., when compared with something else
Once you've tasted the local apples, all others pale by comparison.
Examples of pale by comparison in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Intra-Western divisions since February 2022 pale by comparison.
—
Nigel Gould-Davies, Foreign Affairs, 8 Mar. 2023
However, the audience for the Hawks’ final national TV appearance — Feb. 21 against the Philadelphia Flyers at the United Center — could pale by comparison given both teams finished in the draft lottery last season.
—Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2023
Most of the other things that would be at all similar are going to pale by comparison.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 30 June 2023
Frankly, what inside baseball there is on hand seems pale by comparison as well.
—Laura Jedeed, The New Republic, 4 Mar. 2023
Her Instagram and Facebook accounts pale by comparison.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2021
Many are familiar with Alibaba’s highly celebrated singles day, which makes Amazon’s AMZN +0.5% Prime Day sales pale by comparison.
—Sanford Stein, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2021
All this mayhem made the events of Jan. 6 pale by comparison.
—WSJ, 18 June 2021
Barrett's trial by fire will make those faced by Trump's first two nominees pale by comparison, even though both came to the court in the midst of previous Supreme Court terms.
—Richard Wolf, USA TODAY, 27 Oct. 2020
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Nigel Gould-Davies, Foreign Affairs, 8 Mar. 2023
However, the audience for the Hawks’ final national TV appearance — Feb. 21 against the Philadelphia Flyers at the United Center — could pale by comparison given both teams finished in the draft lottery last season.
—Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2023
Most of the other things that would be at all similar are going to pale by comparison.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 30 June 2023
Frankly, what inside baseball there is on hand seems pale by comparison as well.
—Laura Jedeed, The New Republic, 4 Mar. 2023
Her Instagram and Facebook accounts pale by comparison.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2021
Many are familiar with Alibaba’s highly celebrated singles day, which makes Amazon’s AMZN +0.5% Prime Day sales pale by comparison.
—Sanford Stein, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2021
All this mayhem made the events of Jan. 6 pale by comparison.
—WSJ, 18 June 2021
Barrett's trial by fire will make those faced by Trump's first two nominees pale by comparison, even though both came to the court in the midst of previous Supreme Court terms.
—Richard Wolf, USA TODAY, 27 Oct. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Pale by comparison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pale%20by%20comparison. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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