as in pallid
lacking a healthy skin color
still looking ashen from his bout with the flu
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of ashen
Patches of skin that appear red, white, blue, gray, yellow, purple, brown or ashen as opposed to their normal color.
—
John Tufts, IndyStar, 13 Jan. 2025
His skin, particularly his face, had an ashen appearance.
—Ars Technica, 10 Jan. 2025
Metal railings or a charred brick chimney were all that remained to distinguish the ashen piles.
—Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
But the film that follows — luminously ashen where too many recent movies and TV shows have just been irritatingly dim — is flooded with a moonlight so lucid and alive that even the story’s most stygian moments might as well have been set at high noon.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ashen
John Tufts, IndyStar, 13 Jan. 2025
His skin, particularly his face, had an ashen appearance.
—Ars Technica, 10 Jan. 2025
Metal railings or a charred brick chimney were all that remained to distinguish the ashen piles.
—Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
But the film that follows — luminously ashen where too many recent movies and TV shows have just been irritatingly dim — is flooded with a moonlight so lucid and alive that even the story’s most stygian moments might as well have been set at high noon.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ashen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ashen
Adjective
-
Morfydd Clark, pallid at first, has some emotive scenes at the wedding when Ophelia rails at Hamlet for turning away from her.—
Caryn James,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Yet senior test kitchen editor Jesse Szewczyk recently took one of those pallid lumps and coaxed utter brilliance from it.—
Chris Morocco,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The restaurant’s minimalist design, from the pale wood furniture to the soft globe lighting, feels warm thanks to earthy textures and abundant natural light, creating a calm, modern space, perfect for enjoying a meal.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Aim for pale yellow throughout the day.—
Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ashen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ashen. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share