1
as in flag
a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling
flew their country's colors atop the highest mast on the ship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in troops
the combined army, air force, and navy of a nation
she hopes to carry on the family tradition and serve with the colors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in nature
the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others
we saw his true colors during the emergency
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in paints
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 exaggerates
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 distorts
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 blushes
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.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of colors
Clint Davis,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
The 50th edition of the nation’s largest Independence Day celebration will feature 85,000 fireworks shells in 30 colors launched from six barges, plus a new laser show from the Brooklyn Bridge.
—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
26 June 2026
All rooms have been recently renovated and celebrate the surrounding Canadian landscape, while furniture and patterns evoke the energizing colors and textures found in nature.
—
Forbes Travel Guide,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
Several brands lean into shorter shapes, neutral colors and thinner tips that pass for a fresh salon manicure.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2026
Check it out in a variety of colors and patterns, which are up to 42 percent off.
—
Genevieve Cepeda,
InStyle,
26 June 2026
The comforter, which is offered in six sizes and over 10 colors, is made with a cooling fabric that’s designed to absorb body heat and reduce your skin temperature.
—
Jamie Weissman,
Southern Living,
26 June 2026
They were dressed in red and white, their colors standing out in a crowd dressed otherwise uniformly.
—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
26 June 2026
Serving tray for entertaining $25 to $50 This straightforward serving tray is a reliable standard that’s sturdy and comes in seven colors.
—
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
Calin Van Paris,
InStyle,
19 June 2026
Moon sign, which colors their emotional self.
—
Maressa Brown,
Parents,
18 June 2026
In her latest offering, the 32-year-old pivots from the darker sound of her debut, moving toward a meditative approach (in the very literal sense) to the music that colors life in the Caribbean.
—
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Sunlight colors the water behind her, brightening a few strands of her hair.
—
Thomas Lake,
AJC.com,
4 June 2026
Malek colors him in with shades of anger, tenderness, psychosis, and the sheer pesky individuality of Jimmy.
—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
20 May 2026
Talk to me a little bit about how Santos’ own experience with addiction and self-harm colors her relationship with Langdon.
—
Ct Jones,
Rolling Stone,
19 Apr. 2026
Which colors merit entries in the dictionary?
—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
The foliage shifts colors with the seasons, emerging bright red in spring then taking on a deep green hue during the summer months before shifting to burgundy in fall and winter.
—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
All colors are the same price right now and come with free shipping, but note the delivery dates because some will arrive quicker than others.
—
Clint Davis,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
The 50th edition of the nation’s largest Independence Day celebration will feature 85,000 fireworks shells in 30 colors launched from six barges, plus a new laser show from the Brooklyn Bridge.
—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
26 June 2026
All rooms have been recently renovated and celebrate the surrounding Canadian landscape, while furniture and patterns evoke the energizing colors and textures found in nature.
—
Forbes Travel Guide,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
Several brands lean into shorter shapes, neutral colors and thinner tips that pass for a fresh salon manicure.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2026
Check it out in a variety of colors and patterns, which are up to 42 percent off.
—
Genevieve Cepeda,
InStyle,
26 June 2026
The comforter, which is offered in six sizes and over 10 colors, is made with a cooling fabric that’s designed to absorb body heat and reduce your skin temperature.
—
Jamie Weissman,
Southern Living,
26 June 2026
They were dressed in red and white, their colors standing out in a crowd dressed otherwise uniformly.
—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
26 June 2026
Serving tray for entertaining $25 to $50 This straightforward serving tray is a reliable standard that’s sturdy and comes in seven colors.
—
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
Verb
Summer is a vibrant, splashy season, so why not opt for a mani that colors outside the lines?
—
Calin Van Paris,
InStyle,
19 June 2026
Moon sign, which colors their emotional self.
—
Maressa Brown,
Parents,
18 June 2026
In her latest offering, the 32-year-old pivots from the darker sound of her debut, moving toward a meditative approach (in the very literal sense) to the music that colors life in the Caribbean.
—
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Sunlight colors the water behind her, brightening a few strands of her hair.
—
Thomas Lake,
AJC.com,
4 June 2026
Malek colors him in with shades of anger, tenderness, psychosis, and the sheer pesky individuality of Jimmy.
—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
20 May 2026
Talk to me a little bit about how Santos’ own experience with addiction and self-harm colors her relationship with Langdon.
—
Ct Jones,
Rolling Stone,
19 Apr. 2026
Which colors merit entries in the dictionary?
—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
The foliage shifts colors with the seasons, emerging bright red in spring then taking on a deep green hue during the summer months before shifting to burgundy in fall and winter.
—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
9 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colors
Noun
-
The official OnsOranje social media accounts posted quite a few photos of the streets filled with Dutch fans and Netherlands flags as supports do their collective march to the stadium.
-
Many have carried the Indian flag and brought copies of the constitution to the demonstration.
Noun
-
And in Lebanon, Israeli forces attacked a southern town, after Israel agreed to withdraw some troops from the area.
-
The area is outside the security zone shown on a map published by Israel of the territory its troops will continue to control.
Noun
-
The injuries ranged from minor to serious in nature, the highway patrol said in its release.
-
The taxing nature of executive roles, coupled with constant travel, high decision volumes, and immense stress, necessitates robust physical capacity.
Verb
-
But a closer examination paints a more complicated picture.
-
Emre Elmas of San Francisco paints his face before the World Cup group stage match between Paraguay and Turkiye.
Verb
-
Drama hides a hero’s flaws; comedy exaggerates it.
-
Tristan Baker, head of performance at Go Perform, an athletics performance and coaching facility, and a former strength and conditioning coach at Reading, believes a still photograph exaggerates how unstable the movement appears.
Verb
-
Progressives across the country have spent years arguing that unlimited outside spending distorts democracy, empowers wealthy interests, and undermines trust in government.
-
This lyrical collection from B Batchelor—a 2025 Haymarket Writing Freedom Fellow, and a recipient of multiple awards from PEN America—explores the way incarceration distorts time.
Verb
-
Long blushes through the compliment and returns it, praising Bosworth right back.
-
While at dusk, the horizon blushes with coral light as fishing boats drift past the silhouette of Longtou Rock.
Noun
-
Since the news, community members have assembled to help by making banners to hang in front of the store.
-
Balloons, banners and even billboard trucks lined the avenue.
Cite this Entry
“Colors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colors. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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