washed-out
adjective
ˈwȯsht-ˈau̇t 
ˈwäsht-
1
: faded in color
2
: depleted in vigor or animation : exhausted
Examples of washed-out in a Sentence
washed-out blond hair
feeling washed-out after the endless primary season, the party's nominee needs a vacation more than anything
Recent Examples on the Web
Lindsay’s nails cause the color of the nail bed to look half white and half red or brown, whereas Terry’s nails cause the nail bed to look mostly white or washed-out, per Cleveland Clinic.
—
Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 12 Nov. 2024
This shade leans totally into nude territory without being washed-out.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 July 2024
The picture is bright, though some high-contrast shots of silhouetted objects show slightly muddy or washed-out shadow details; the contours of a lioness against a sunset are slightly indistinct, while trees against a stormy sky are a bit too light.
—PCMAG, 30 May 2024
That addition is particularly important considering users have complained in Samsung's user forums and on Reddit about the current vivid setting appearing too washed-out.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
Although colors aren’t reference-monitor accurate, the lifelike hues and sharp edges on words and textures create a high-quality image that doesn’t look artificially saturated or washed-out like on similar portable monitors.
—Popular Mechanics, 29 Aug. 2023
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Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 12 Nov. 2024
This shade leans totally into nude territory without being washed-out.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 July 2024
The picture is bright, though some high-contrast shots of silhouetted objects show slightly muddy or washed-out shadow details; the contours of a lioness against a sunset are slightly indistinct, while trees against a stormy sky are a bit too light.
—PCMAG, 30 May 2024
That addition is particularly important considering users have complained in Samsung's user forums and on Reddit about the current vivid setting appearing too washed-out.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
Although colors aren’t reference-monitor accurate, the lifelike hues and sharp edges on words and textures create a high-quality image that doesn’t look artificially saturated or washed-out like on similar portable monitors.
—Popular Mechanics, 29 Aug. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Washed-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/washed-out. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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