Definition of colorantnext
as in pigment
a substance used to color other materials in ancient times, a mollusk was used to produce a rich purple colorant for clothing and linens

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 colorant It is used to make liquid shellac, a brush-on colorant and wood finish, and is found in shampoos, aluminum foil and lipstick. Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026 Twenty-six other states have followed in California’s footsteps with legislation — some signed into law, others still in progress — that would either ban, restrict or require labels for artificial colorants. Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026 Every Rae product remains vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free, and free from harmful fillers, colorants, and artificial preservatives. Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 16 Dec. 2025 But the replacements are still made of complex materials that include additives like colorants; the chemicals can react in ways the companies may not intend or understand, Boucher says. Matt Fuchs, Time, 5 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for colorant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colorant
Noun
  • The only natural safeguard your body has against UV light is a microscopically thin layer of a pigment called melanin in your epidermis.
    Guy German, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
  • That enhanced fiber swelling under microwaving exposes a greater number of accessible binding sites for pigment on keratin.
    Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 17 June 2026
Noun
  • Chemistry and dye manufacturers are joining forces with Denim Deal to help scale circular denim.
    Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 17 June 2026
  • Hot water breaks down the dyes, so preserve your darkest colors and keep them looking like new by using a cold wash cycle.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 15 June 2026
Noun
  • The star ingredient, bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate (say that five times fast), reconnects broken disulfide bonds in the hair, which can be damaged by heat styling, coloring, and everyday wear and tear.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 19 June 2026
  • The colors would be unusual in North Carolina, and more common in animals bred in captivity for specific coloring.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 17 June 2026
Noun
  • These colors are so rich, and the bookmatch-style symmetry is neat.
    Ashley Fetters Maloy, Washington Post, 16 June 2026
  • The one glaring chapter that had been missing began to write itself Monday night with color and pageantry as Miami was home to a soccer match in the FIFA World Cup for the first time.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 16 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Colorant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colorant. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

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