colorants

plural of colorant
as in pigments
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 colorants There was a push to use American dyes and colorants to stave off a deep economic recession—there wasn’t really any other choice—but the cold commercial reality dumped water all over that flag-waving parade. Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026 But that other supplier would have to try to reverse engineer that particular dye — formulas for dyes and colorants were, in spite of being in service to the war effort, still proprietary — and backward engineering color from a finished product is a crapshoot. Kory Stamper, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026 Founded in Brazil by Ailton Pereira, the process converts agro-industrial waste into textile colorants designed to reduce reliance on petrochemical dyes. Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 5 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colorants
Noun
  • The key to most waterproof formulas are waxes or silicones, which protect the pigments from water and prevents it from breaking down.
    Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Its red-purple edges come from anthocyanins, plant pigments associated with heart health.
    Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 31 July 2026
Noun
  • Beyond the dyes, the FDA began a systematic review of food chemicals.
    Avik Roy, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Cotton used in tampons, for example, could have absorbed metals from water, air, or soil, or from materials added during manufacturing, such as dyes, or even during factory processing.
    Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 22 July 2026
Noun
  • Night after night, Swift would perform for more than three hours, running back her career one era at a time, each one its own world with distinctive sets, costumes, and colors.
    Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Even the white Reverse Retro jersey in 2022-23 with those colors as accents crushed.
    The Athletic NHL Staff, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Colorants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colorants. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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