blue 1 of 2

adjective

ˈblü How to pronounce blue (audio)
Definition of bluenext
1
as in sad
feeling unhappiness a cold, dreary day always leaves me blue

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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

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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

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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

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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

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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
Josh Hartnett plays fisherman Calvin Penney, attempting to harvest blue ice for vodka in the face of declining stocks, but finding his haul smelling strangely of ammonia. — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 Petals can be vivid blue, white, or purple; the center of each flower is usually yellow or yellowish green. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
Noun
Low and mid-rise jeans continue to outrank high-rise jeans this season, while white jeans are being appreciated as a more polished alternative to classic blue. — Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 8 Oct. 2026 Kottke has been rejiggering folk, blues and jazz for over 40 albums and just about as many years. — Greg Carannante, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for blue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blue
  1. sad
  2. obscene
  3. suggestive
  4. intellectual
  5. sky
  6. sea
  7. depressed
  8. vulgar
Adjective
  • Spark, a writer of the first rank, brought her beautifully to life in this moving, rather sad novel of Edinburgh in the 1930s.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026
  • And yet the allegation against her now enters Orange County’s long, sad spectrum of anti-Mexican political history.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of sad
Adjective
  • The disingenuous campaign ads, the obscene amount of money that is spent to air them and the promises that are rarely fulfilled are enough to make one cynical.
    — Cal Thomas, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The public must contend head-on with a collapsing currency and runaway inflation, and to ordinary Iranians, describing the present situation as sustainable would sound almost obscene.
    — Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of obscene
Adjective
  • At the time, fans were quick to point out that the majority of the crew members seen in the clip were men, while Sweeney was sitting in a suggestive pose.
    — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Messages in 2024 between Johnson and Duffey revealed the two men used suggestive language.
    — Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of suggestive
Adjective
  • There is an intellectual curiosity and a real competitiveness.
    — Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Nerdy, overweight, and hyper-intellectual, Oscar never seems to fit in with his peers and is unlucky in love.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of intellectual
Noun
  • Standing barefoot outside his home at 8th Street and Balboa Boulevard, holding a cup of coffee, Ross Stewart, 79, stared at the gray sky and at the berms.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Each of the objects can be spotted with a modest backyard telescope under dark sky conditions, which has made the Messier catalog a popular sightseeing checklist for amateur astronomers looking to explore the wonders beyond our solar system.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of sky
Noun
  • Perched high in the cliffs, built into the rock face overlooking the sea, and within view of the sweet fishing village of Conca dei Marini, the property is just a quick drive to Amalfi, but still feels a million miles away from the tourists.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • As Hungary is landlocked, the lake is sometimes known as the country's internal sea, measuring nearly 80km long and about 14km wide at its widest point.
    — Lucy Handley, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of sea
Adjective
  • Republicans fear depressed turnout among their supporters in Texas could jeopardize their control of the Senate seat.
    — Matthew Choi, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Simply put, a rain garden is a depressed bed planted with native perennials and shrubs selected for their high-water tolerance.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of depressed
Adjective
  • The woman's attorneys argued that the decision wrongly gives school officials wide latitude to squelch political speech based on their personal ideas of what is vulgar.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • There were fraternity brothers exchanging vulgar messages about the accuseron Snapchat, echoing what Willis says happened after she herself was assaulted in 2014.
    — Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of vulgar

Phrases Containing blue

Browse Nearby Words

bludging
blue
blue blood
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Cite this Entry

“Blue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blue. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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