Synonyms of color

color 1 of 2

noun

ˈkə-lər 

1

as in hue

a property that becomes apparent when light falls on an object and by which things that are identical in form can be distinguished

a shirt that is available in every color of the rainbow

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hue
• shade
• tone
• coloration
• tint
• tinge
• coloring
• tincture
• brightness
• cast
• contrast
• saturation
• chroma
• undertone
• pigmentation
• chromaticity
• overtone
• lightness
• value
• primary color
• secondary color
• tertiary color
• colorway

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• achromatism

2

as in pigment

a substance used to color other materials

added some red color to the base paint

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pigment
• dye
• coloring
• stain
• colorant
• hue
• dyestuff
• tint
• shade
• tinge
• toner
• cast

3

as in coloring

the hue or appearance of the skin and especially of the face

her color hasn't been good since she got sick

Synonyms & Similar Words

• coloring
• tone
• complexion
• shade
• tint
• features
• face
• looks
• countenance
• lineaments
• visage

4

as in flag

colors plural 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

• flag
• banner
• pennant
• standard
• streamer
• ensign
• insignia
• pendant
• pennon
• guidon
• banderole
• tricolor
• jack
• white flag
• black flag
• crest
• bunting
• coat of arms
• Jolly Roger
• badge
• semaphore
• union jack
• gonfalon
• waft
• burgee
• signaler

5

as in blush

a rosy appearance (of the cheeks)

the stay in the country brought color to her cheeks

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blush
• brightness
• glow
• bloom
• flush
• brilliance
• redness
• pinkness
• reddishness
• ruddiness
• rosiness
• sanguineness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• whiteness
• pallor
• paleness
• pastiness
• wanness
• greenness
• sallowness
• pallidness
• greenishness

6

as in service

colors plural 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

• service
• military
• troops
• soldiers
• armed forces
• militia
• rank and file
• force
• defense
• armor
• reserves
• soldiery
• servicemen
• GIs
• servicewomen
• men-at-arms
• gendarmerie

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• civilians
• noncombatants

7

as in personality

colors plural 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

• personality
• self
• nature
• character
• tone
• complexion
• clay
• trait
• constitution
• spirit
• characteristic
• genius
• flavor
• feature
• attribute
• uniqueness
• property
• soul
• individuality
• composition
• mark
• grain
• temperament
• sort
• interior
• stamp
• makeup
• temper
• way
• distinctness
• substance
• distinctiveness
• disposition
• essence
• metal
• singularity
• hallmark
• stuff
• savor
• point
• essentiality
• earmark
• habit
• interiority

color

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to paint

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

• paint
• tint
• stain
• dye
• pigment
• brighten
• tinge
• tincture
• stripe
• darken
• bepaint
• lighten
• tone (down)
• pattern
• marble
• fleck
• streak
• speckle
• mottle
• polychrome
• variegate
• speck
• striate
• dapple
• embrown
• checker
• daub

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bleach
• decolorize
• whiten
• blanch

2

as in to exaggerate

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

• exaggerate
• pad
• enhance
• embellish
• embroider
• expand
• elaborate (on)
• stretch
• hyperbolize
• magnify
• emphasize
• flesh (out)
• satirize
• enlarge (on or upon)
• amplify
• stress
• dress up
• play up
• overdo
• caricature
• overdraw
• hedge
• fudge
• overemphasize
• gussy up
• overstate
• overplay

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• minimize
• understate
• belittle
• play down

3

as in to distort

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

• distort
• misrepresent
• cook
• slant
• twist
• obscure
• complicate
• warp
• falsify
• pervert
• fudge
• misstate
• misinterpret
• garble
• misrelate
• camouflage
• mask
• censor
• confuse
• mistake
• bend
• veil
• disguise
• gloss (over)
• whitewash
• dissemble
• misdescribe
• mix (up)
• lie
• mistranslate
• misspeak
• belie
• bowdlerize
• mystify
• equivocate
• palter
• fib
• prevaricate
• confound

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• explain
• interpret
• illustrate
• clarify
• clear (up)
• spell out
• illuminate
• decipher

4

as in to blush

to develop a rosy facial color (as from excitement or embarrassment)

she colored after hearing the nasty remarks about her weight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blush
• glow
• flush
• crimson
• turn color
• bloom
• redden
• rouge
• incarnadine
• ruddle
• humiliate
• faze
• disconcert
• mortify
• abash
• discomfit
• embarrass
• chagrin

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of color

Noun

There, the alt-jazz group and the singer painted on a wide canvas, letting open space and echo color the music. — Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 14 July 2026

From the first minute of the game, France looked off the pace and off color and barely laid a glove on Spain. — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 14 July 2026

Verb

But the art director says there’s more to aquamarine than simply color. — Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 July 2026

The crowd looked up as the pyrotechnic display colored the sky in shades of red, white and blue. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 4 July 2026

Phrases Containing color

• turn color