blue 1 of 2

adjective

ˈblü How to pronounce blue (audio)
Definition of bluenext
1
as in obscene
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society was shocked at the blue banter on that satellite-radio talk show

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sad
feeling unhappiness a cold, dreary day always leaves me blue

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in suggestive
hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent a lighthearted comedy with a few moments of blue humor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in intellectual
much given to learning and thinking a book club that had been founded many years earlier by the blue, progressive women of the city

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

blue

2 of 2

noun

1
as in sky
the expanse of air surrounding the earth the plane flew off into the blue and was never seen again

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in sea
the whole body of salt water that covers nearly three-fourths of the earth pirate ships that sailed the vasty blue in search of treasure

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 blue
Adjective
The synagogue’s entryway leads to a main hall with blue and white Chinese porcelain tile floors. — ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026 Season 1 ends with Sugar vowing to track down Henry (Jason Butler Harner), a fellow blue guy who may be responsible for their entire race getting chased off Earth and for the disappearance of Sugar’s sister, Djen (Mireille Enos). — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
The bestselling quilt set comes in more than 10 calming colors including glacier blue, mist gray, and pine green. — Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug. 2026 Perhaps lesser known is San Jose Jazz’s Summer Fest, which brings a staggering number of jazz, blues, reggae and other acts to indoor and outdoor stages in downtown San Jose, also Friday through Sunday. — Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for blue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blue
  1. obscene
  2. sad
  3. suggestive
  4. intellectual
  5. sky
  6. sea
  7. vulgar
  8. depressed
Adjective
  • Climate Pledge Arena prohibits abusive or obscene language and says violators may be ejected.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026
  • These stories were reprinted in Scottish and English botanical texts, and Henrietta would have known about the obscene ideas connected with the mushroom.
    — Leah Hudson, Popular Science, 9 July 2026
Definition of obscene
Adjective
  • Washington Post cartoonist Clifford Berryman quickly produced a cartoon showing Roosevelt refusing to shoot a tiny bear cub with big sad eyes and a rope around its neck.
    — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
  • These sad conventions; these American ways of being, pacing to the end of a block and back like hamsters.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of sad
Adjective
  • The silly yellow fruit that became a part of their culture was freighted, from the start, with suggestive meaning.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The screenplay by Rasmus Birch and Kalle makes useful changes on that template, replacing crudely literal-minded aspects with more suggestive ones, paring dialogue to make room for effective visual storytelling.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 26 July 2026
Definition of suggestive
Adjective
  • The nastiness of intellectual disputes, therefore, depends in part on how people frame their positions.
    — Andras Molnar, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Hershiser has enjoyed the intellectual challenge of mastering the mechanics of covering baseball for a TV audience.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of intellectual
Noun
  • Bright stars or planets such as Venus may shine in the dark sky, and the air temperature will drop as the sun disappears.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • One of the best meteor showers of the year peaks this week, and Mother Nature has given us an almost perfect setup in the sky.
    — Joe Ruch, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of sky
Noun
  • The Russian Defense Ministry said Friday its air defenses overnight intercepted 553 Ukrainian drones over 18 Russian regions, as well as occupied Crimea and the waters of the Azov and the Black seas.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Choose a cabin surrounded by woods for hiking; a cottage perched on the sea for water sports; a farmhouse near the vineyards for wine-tasting.
    — Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of sea
Adjective
  • But the school’s dress code prohibits messages that are lewd, indecent, vulgar or profane.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Lonnie is loud, obnoxious, and vulgar in ways that rankle traditional golfers.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 July 2026
Definition of vulgar
Adjective
  • By mid-December, Clancy was feeling very depressed, Tufts said.
    — Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • While there is plenty of food, everyone looks pretty depressed.
    — William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of depressed

Phrases Containing blue

Browse Nearby Words

bludging
blue
blue blood
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blue. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on blue

Nglish: Translation of blue for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All