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
  • Said sad attraction is not exactly comparable to Buckingham Fountain.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Their deaths were a sad reminder of the danger that pneumococcal pneumonia poses to older adults.
    — Mark Marino, PEOPLE, 6 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
  • Living with the uncertainty about what the future might hold was exciting, overwhelming, an intellectual challenge as well as an emotional one.
    — Annie Karni, Vogue, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Her accomplishments reflect the creativity, intellectual curiosity, and ambition that define Rutgers graduates, and her connection to New Jersey makes this recognition especially meaningful.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of intellectual
Noun
  • That’s because even if the tiniest sliver of the sun remains visible, the landscape stays surprisingly bright, the sky never falls into twilight, and the sun’s spectacular corona remains hidden.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Its spirit is fueled by the stunning beauty of places like Yellowstone National Park, wide-open skies, endless horizons, and a frontier spirit that’s been alive for centuries.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of sky
Noun
  • The enemies today are no longer on the battlefields, dropping bombs from the air or firing on our ships from under the sea.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • As teams continue to host training camp in unusual locations, and as the NFL continues to schedule games over seas, this year’s jock tax has numerous intricacies that affect a player’s after-tax salary income.
    — Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 6 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 11 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

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

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

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
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
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All