1
as in faded
lacking intensity of color
we chose a very pale pink for the walls of the room
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pallid
lacking a healthy skin color
after a week with the flu, she was deathly pale and noticeably thinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in vague
not seen or understood clearly
a pale outline off in the distance proved to be someone out for a walk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to bleach
to make white or whiter by removing color
the sun eventually paled my bright blue shirt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in paling
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pale
Lynn McAlpine, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
In crescents on the breakfast tray, The pale pale color of peach moonstone.
—Patricia Lockwood, The New York Review of Books, 5 Mar. 2026
Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield, CBS News, 15 Feb. 2026
The archivists and librarians of Ḫattuša and Alexandria could find emergent order in their holdings, but those collections paled in comparison to the flood of print.
—Big Think, 9 Feb. 2026
Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Not knowing Elphaba is allergic to water, Dorothy empties a pale of water on her to put out the fire, accidentally melting her.
—Time, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pale
Adjective
Once established, queen of the prairie produces masses of fragrant, pale pink flower heads throughout the summer, along with bright green, finely cut foliage that's resistant to hungry deer.
—Lynn McAlpine, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
In crescents on the breakfast tray, The pale pale color of peach moonstone.
—Patricia Lockwood, The New York Review of Books, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
But after surviving a stroke several years ago, that accomplishment paled in comparison to what laid ahead.
—Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield, CBS News, 15 Feb. 2026
The archivists and librarians of Ḫattuša and Alexandria could find emergent order in their holdings, but those collections paled in comparison to the flood of print.
—Big Think, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
At the Palm Springs International Film Festival, Chase Infiniti stepped out in a satin pale pink gown with a cowl neckline.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Not knowing Elphaba is allergic to water, Dorothy empties a pale of water on her to put out the fire, accidentally melting her.
—Time, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pale
Adjective
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And today, free tuition could be the PR tonic California needs to brighten its faded image across America.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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There's the faded mural of Mount Lookout just below the ceiling.—
Keith Pandolfi,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Out of the bloodstains shone a pair of bright blue eyes, and a heart was beating under the pallid skin that looked several sizes too big.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Three weeks after that hit that sent a crowd of 75,261 at Empower Field into a pallid silence, Bryant is ever the same.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
17 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But the notice sent last spring was so vague and confusing that few people used it to object.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
-
At the time, viewers had vague familiarity with these six faces, like Courteney Cox from Family Ties or Lisa Kudrow from Mad About You.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Corals bleached and their population nose-dived, especially in the Keys, where water temperatures hit a Jacuzzi-like 101 degrees.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
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Egg cartons made with recycled paper could be bleached or potentially contain contaminants, depending on the origins of the paper.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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For something a little lighter, upscale Milanese sandwich chain De Santis offers salads and sandwiches plus freshly made cakes and coffee.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Mar. 2026
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He was last seen near Old Fort Boise Road and Pitman Lane wearing light gray sweatpants and a black sweatshirt, according to the post.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Around 5000 light-years away, the faint nebula PMR 1 hides a star whose fate is not yet known.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Then his mouth stretches into a faint smile.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Three days later, Litmus Test faded to third place in his first start of the year, the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas.—
Jay Posner,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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What sympathy there may have been for a cornered, bruised Iranian regime among its neighbors has faded in the face of Tehran’s escalation.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But a final autopsy report determined there was no link between the fight — during which Mejia appeared to slam her head into a wall — and her death.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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The city approved a Phase 1 revitalization plan shepherded by the La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club to replace walls and doors in the station’s sleeping areas, along with other improvements.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pale. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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