pastel

noun

pas·tel | \ pa-ˈstel

Definition of pastel

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a paste made of powdered pigment ranging from pale to deep colors and used for making crayons also : a crayon made of such paste

2a : a drawing in pastel

b : the process or art of drawing with pastels

3 : a light literary sketch

4 : any of various pale or light colors

pastel

adjective

Definition of pastel (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : of or relating to a pastel

b : made with pastels

2 : pale and light in color

3 : lacking in body or vigor

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about pastel

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Synonyms & Antonyms for pastel

Synonyms: Adjective

dull, dulled, faded, light, pale, washed-out, washy

Antonyms: Adjective

dark, deep, gay, rich

Examples of pastel in a Sentence

Noun

She has a collection of pastels. She prefers a pastel like light yellow. The room is painted in a pastel shade of blue.

Adjective

a pastel blue to go with the pale pink walls

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Along with the debut of a Nova x Barbie Flash sneaker — which features a brightly colored panel and Barbie's signature pink logo — Puma has unveiled a Nova x Barbie sneaker PS that includes soft hints of pastel. — Lauren Rearick, Teen Vogue, "Puma Unveiled Its Latest Capsule Collection Inspired by Barbie," 2 Apr. 2019 Romantic gowns in luscious pastels, often with intricate embellishments, were worn day and night from Doha to Los Angeles for a global consensus on glamour. — Vogue, "This Week, Stars Went for Modern Elegance and Runway Standouts," 1 Apr. 2019 For her wedding day, Markle stuck with a more traditional style with a pastel pink shade that may have been Essie's Mademoiselle, or the Queen's favorite Ballet Slippers. — Zoe Weiner, Allure, "Meghan Markle Wears Unique Manicure on Official Visit With Queen," 14 June 2018 Image The Bathroom The en suite double bathroom, equipped with a rainfall shower and a sizable claw foot bathtub, was done up in pastel pink, black and white tiles and retro globe lights that could easily be dimmed. — Lindsey Tramuta, New York Times, "At a London Hotel, Art Deco Design and Stylish Cocktails," 9 June 2018 Some are rendered in pastels and watercolor, while others are more abstract, etched in black and white. — The Atlantic, "The Icelandic Families Tracking Climate Change With Measuring Tape," 6 June 2018 Some are rendered in pastels and watercolor, while others are more abstract, etched in black and white. — Gloria Dickie, WIRED, "Humans Tracked Iceland's Glaciers For Ages. Now, Tech Does," 5 June 2018 Dressed to the nines in pastels and florals, London-chic fascinator hats perched neatly on their heads, the royal wedding spectators — nearly all women — filled the room with the sounds of giggling and the tinkling of spoons on teacups. — Margeaux Sippell, BostonGlobe.com, "A royal viewing party on this side of the Atlantic," 19 May 2018 Other choices include bright floral tops and dresses, suede jackets in pastels or earthy tones, and statement skirts in bold colors and patterns. — The Cut, "How to Dress for 7 Spring Occasions: A Trunk Club Stylist Explains," 19 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

At one point, Swift's dancing in the street with dozens of women in matching pastel suits. — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, "Taylor Swift Planted So Many Easter Eggs in Her 'ME!' Video," 26 Apr. 2019 New merchandise has arrived to Taylor's website, and like her music video and recent social media posts, the clothing items and accessories are very pastel. — Lauren Rearick, Teen Vogue, "Taylor Swift Released a Line of "ME!" Merch," 30 Apr. 2019 Colored with just enough gel to create a pretty pastel effect, the dough can be rolled into long ropes and cut before air-drying overnight into an after-dinner sweet. — Elisa Ludwig, Philly.com, "How to make your own Easter candy at home," 26 Mar. 2018 Marian Goodman is showing the exquisitely pastel pods of the sculptor Nairy Baghramian, each fastened to the floor or wall by a black stem, creating a delicious distortion of scale. — Roberta Smith, New York Times, "ADAA: A Fair to Remember Starts a Month of Art Show Madness," 1 Mar. 2018 The Guardian’s architecture critic gained remarkable access to the world’s most secretive city, examined here alongside over 300 of Wainwright’s own photos, dominated by symmetrical buildings and sickly pastel hues. — Curbed Staff, Curbed, "18 enticing new books on design, cities, and more," 14 Dec. 2018 As their beige surfaces, pastel-colored buttons, rounded displays, and rotary dials gleamed, more than a dozen Apollo alumni—the men who guided humanity to the moon and back—stood on the tarmac in eager anticipation. — Matt Blitz, Popular Mechanics, "Houston, We Have a Resurrection: How Mission Control Came Back from the Brink," 27 Nov. 2018 The space is a fantasy of paper flowers, flowy dresses and pastel opal earrings. — Will Kahn, Town & Country, "Irene Neuwirth Partners With Capitol for New Boutique in Brentwood," 2 Apr. 2019 As People reported, Rose showed up to Ace of Diamonds in West Hollywood with her new 'do, a cross between the pastel hair trend and the wet look seen on other celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Margot Robbie. — Emily Wang, Allure, "Amber Rose Now Has Waist-Grazing Purple Hair, and She Looks So Different," 31 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pastel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.