1
2
as in color
the hue or appearance of the skin and especially of the face
the pale coloring of people of Irish descent
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in exaggeration
the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts
the unexciting facts were given a sensational coloring in the local news
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in painting
to give color or a different color to
per the couple's request, the baker used natural ingredients like beet juice and turmeric to color the icing for the wedding cake
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exaggerating
to add to the interest of by including made-up details
he gave a highly colored version of a rather mundane experience
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in distorting
to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of
his news reporting is colored by his prejudices
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in blushing
to develop a rosy facial color (as from excitement or embarrassment)
she colored after hearing the nasty remarks about her weight
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 coloring
Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
Rob Doar, an attorney and president of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, told KTSP in Minneapolis that the firearm the federal agent emerges with has the same optic and coloring as the one in an image posted by the White House on social media and displayed during a news conference with Noem.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 25 Jan. 2026
CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
Sedaris keeps a wide variety of coloring books to fit her friends’ interests.
—Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coloring
Noun
Known for their distinctive black-and-white coloring, the animals can weigh up to 700 pounds and typically live up to 30 years.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
Rob Doar, an attorney and president of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, told KTSP in Minneapolis that the firearm the federal agent emerges with has the same optic and coloring as the one in an image posted by the White House on social media and displayed during a news conference with Noem.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 25 Jan. 2026
Verb
Some of his favorite activities include coloring with chalk on the pavement, swinging at the playground, sunbathing on warm days, visiting the trampoline park, playing Bocce, and going on field trips that spark his curiosity.
—CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
Sedaris keeps a wide variety of coloring books to fit her friends’ interests.
—Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coloring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coloring
Noun
-
Melasma is triggered by hormonal shifts after birth, especially changes in estrogen, which can keep pigment-producing cells overactive even after delivery.—
Alex Vance,
Parents,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Makeup artists also love it for its creamy, blendable texture and rich pigment.—
Emma Greene,
InStyle,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Splashes of color set against those deep charcoal neutrals can introduce some cheer for those who favor dopamine decor.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
For the brightest color, look for a pale golden honey.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Speaking of which, the concept of royalty among members of PFV is no exaggeration, though some of the blue blood flowing through members’ veins is merely aristocratic.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
27 Dec. 2025
-
The deliberate exaggeration of both Lee’s performance and Park’s direction is what draws us into a suspension of moral disbelief, a sense of complicity with Man-su’s outrageous scheme.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Stella Carlson was supposed to spend Saturday morning painting children’s faces at a church.—
Michael Williams,
CNN Money,
28 Jan. 2026
-
There’s something about painting as a medium for me that lives outside of the limits of photography and film.—
Jason Parham,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The administration has repeatedly downplayed the benefits of immunization, while exaggerating the importance of nutritional supplementation for combatting measles.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Allegations that are now spreading online could be misinterpreting records or exaggerating minor issues — or could be exposing actual fraudulent activity.—
Jude Joffe-Block,
NPR,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The distorting design of the Senate and the Electoral College, the filibuster’s persistence, and centralized leadership have all contributed to legislative ossification.—
Duncan Hosie,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Removing those financial incentives would allow care to be organized around quality and access rather than distorting care into forms most favored by bureaucrats.—
Tomas J. Philipson,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Weaving reprises Grace MacCaullay, the blushing bride who was forced to lay waste to her wealthy new in-laws during their sadistic rendition of hide-and-seek.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Timid, pious, and empathic to a fault, the heroine of Mansfield Park spends a good deal of time trembling and blushing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Even the dye that gives the mat its color is non-toxic.—
Deanna Pai,
Vogue,
29 Jan. 2026
-
This is despite the company raising the average cost of its dye vials in the market by 60% and 30% in 2023 and 2024, respectively, according to its IPO prospectus.—
Bernadette Toh,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Coloring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coloring. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
