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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Recent Examples of colors
Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2026
The spectral figures, marked by their sarong colors, imagined Zodiacs, doshas and more, operate haunto-structurally.
—Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
The fabric range includes everything from solid colors to prints that are classic (gingham), nostalgic (‘90s Barbie swimsuits), and dainty florals.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 29 May 2026
The sensory experience of vivid colors, the smell of spices and the energy of the vendors is overwhelming in the best possible way.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026
Gone are the staid, neutral colors of the former store.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2026
Colored gemstones and a dozen different ceramic colors are used to create versatile jewelry looks that can be selected to suit one’s outfit or mood.
—Kyle Roderick, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
And right now, Amazon shoppers are snapping up the Sampeel Matching Set, which is on sale for as little as $26 in black, beige, blue, and more colors.
—Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Some insects and other animals have evolved to take pollen or nectar from specific plant species or flowers of a particular shape or a particular range of colors.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
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
The movie would not ultimately get made, but her work on it colors her memories of early motherhood.
—Rebecca Traister, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2026
The ape caricature still colors how Black people are received in America.
—Hana Kiros, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
Trade drab colors with 44 percent off floral prints, and bulky hoodies for something a little more lightweight to beat those nightly chills and airplane cabin temperatures—this one by Faherty is 25 percent off for a limited time.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2026
The spectral figures, marked by their sarong colors, imagined Zodiacs, doshas and more, operate haunto-structurally.
—Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
The fabric range includes everything from solid colors to prints that are classic (gingham), nostalgic (‘90s Barbie swimsuits), and dainty florals.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 29 May 2026
The sensory experience of vivid colors, the smell of spices and the energy of the vendors is overwhelming in the best possible way.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026
Gone are the staid, neutral colors of the former store.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2026
Colored gemstones and a dozen different ceramic colors are used to create versatile jewelry looks that can be selected to suit one’s outfit or mood.
—Kyle Roderick, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
And right now, Amazon shoppers are snapping up the Sampeel Matching Set, which is on sale for as little as $26 in black, beige, blue, and more colors.
—Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Some insects and other animals have evolved to take pollen or nectar from specific plant species or flowers of a particular shape or a particular range of colors.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
Verb
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
The movie would not ultimately get made, but her work on it colors her memories of early motherhood.
—Rebecca Traister, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2026
The ape caricature still colors how Black people are received in America.
—Hana Kiros, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colors
Noun
-
The red leather booths and wooden bar date back to the early 20th century and the walls are covered in flags from American universities.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
-
Still, this could be mitigated by offering flag in a different season – for example, the spring – than tackle, which is played in the fall.—
Alex Sherman,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Surrounded by some of the state capital’s oldest buildings, the Green is where troops once assembled during the American Revolution and where suffragettes campaigned for women’s rights.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
According to the Museum, more than 150,000 troops participated in the invasion, one of the largest amphibious military operations in history and a pivotal step toward the liberation of Western Europe.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
At Miraval Berkshires, guests are immersed in an intimate, nature-rich setting that invites connection, whether that means getting to know others, engaging with our expert specialists, exploring team challenges, or participating in ceremonies grounded in traditional wisdom.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
3 June 2026
-
For SpaceX, the uninhibited nature of CEO Elon Musk, especially in his posts on X, presents risks amid the formality of the IPO process, said University of Notre Dame finance professor Timothy Loughran.—
Greg Bensinger,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
The experience paints a fitting portrait of how Boston has evolved around these landmarks, which have become a part of everyday life.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
Allegedly, Buckingham Palace leaned on the press to downplay the severity of the king’s illness last year, which paints a picture of a monarch who’s much sicker than people want to believe.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Dehydration exaggerates creases and makes skin look less supple.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Dehydration exaggerates creases and gives skin a texture that emphasizes lines.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Mercury’s clash with Neptune distorts the reality of a situation.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
In this process, a sufficiently intense electromagnetic field distorts the atom’s potential barrier so strongly that an electron can effectively tunnel out through quantum mechanical effects.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Long blushes through the compliment and returns it, praising Bosworth right back.—
William Earl,
Variety,
22 Sep. 2025
-
While at dusk, the horizon blushes with coral light as fishing boats drift past the silhouette of Longtou Rock.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Another document details exactly how to create a Patriot Front banner – down to how to tie the knots affixing the canvas.—
Will Carless,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
-
As the ferry slowly pulled into the Ishigaki port on May 29, a group of people waved the Taiwan flag and brandished a banner to welcome the first batch of visitors.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colors. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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