pale 1 of 3

adjective

ˈpāl How to pronounce pale (audio)
Definition of palenext
1
as in faded
lacking intensity of color we chose a very pale pink for the walls of the room

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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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pale

2 of 3

verb

as in to bleach
to make white or whiter by removing color the sun eventually paled my bright blue shirt

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pale

3 of 3

noun

as in paling

Related Words

Dissimilar 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 pale
Adjective
In the photos, Hadid posed in a pale blue T-shirt with her blonde hair falling in long bitty layers that curled at the ends. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 3 July 2026 Even Swift’s lips weren’t coated in her usual shade; they were lined in a pale pink gloss instead. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 2 July 2026
Verb
In her early years at the helm in Norman, Kindler’s recruiting options paled in comparison to today’s. — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026 Past efforts at protecting the Declaration paled in comparison to the full power of modern science brought to bear for the first time to preserve the timeworn parchment. — Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Noun
Her stomach bulged beneath her I ❤ FLORIDA boatneck and her face was round and waxy-pale. — Stephen King, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026 Eddie looked real pale in that elevator! — Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for pale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pale
  1. faded
  2. pallid
  3. vague
  4. bleach
  5. wall
  6. light
  7. faint
  8. fade
Adjective
  • Eric_Lynxweiler | Courtesy of Latinos in Heritage Conservation The Silver Platter, with its faded crimson awning along a stretch in Los Angeles’ Westlake District, doesn’t look like much from the outside.
    — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • The faded fabric, buttery-soft cotton, and contrast-trim neckline lend it a vintage vibe that won’t look out of place when paired with more contemporary pieces.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 28 June 2026
Definition of faded
Adjective
  • His first pitch brought in between five and eight residents but was met with pallid responses.
    — Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 8 July 2026
  • Opponents of the proposal want the county to consider different locations for the park site, arguing the project may harm a variety of native species to the area, including the western spadefoot toad and pallid bats.
    — Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2026
Definition of pallid
Adjective
  • The section’s vague language and many loopholes could have a chilling effect on any research that studies the effects of a disease, policy or public health intervention on any specific group of people, Rafla-Yuan said.
    — Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Trip reports were vague but full of warnings about steep canyon walls and boat-eating holes.
    — John Todd, Outdoor Life, 9 July 2026
Definition of vague
Verb
  • Light, almost bleached, jeans and white denim are having a main-character moment in 2026.
    — René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 9 July 2026
  • Wet grass is susceptible to fungal infections like rust disease, dollar spot, and red thread, which can cause bleached or dead grass or orange spots on individual blades of grass.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 6 July 2026
Definition of bleach
Noun
  • If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.
    — CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
  • Photos of personal belongings, like smartphones, left behind the bar on the night of fire adorned the walls.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 July 2026
Definition of wall
Adjective
  • The service has picked up a number of exclusive shows, while also putting much of CNN’s digital report behind a light paywall.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026
  • The proposal also lays out a set of lighter guidelines for battery energy storage centers, proposing a 100-foot distance from schools, houses, hospitals and the like, along with similar restrictions on lighting and noise.
    — Ilana Arougheti July 14, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026
Definition of light
Adjective
  • There was a pungent smell and a faint buzzing sound coming from the bedroom.
    — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 10 July 2026
  • Though her father has moved to Savannah in the faint hope of reviving his relationship with her and his grandchildren, Anna has wisely kept her distance from him, given his criminal past and his as-yet-unarticulated failings as a parent.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 10 July 2026
Definition of faint
Verb
  • Most of Future’s peers in the post-Lil Wayne digital-trap era of the early 2010s, from fellow Atlanta stars Young Thug and 2 Chainz to Southern boldfaced names like Kodak Black and Kevin Gates, have faded back into the regional-rap morass.
    — Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2026
  • Each song explores a different kind of longing—lovers come together but fall apart, dreams fade away only to have resolutions renewed—against a different strain of soul.
    — Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 14 July 2026
Definition of fade

Browse Nearby Words

palavers
pale
paled
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Cite this Entry

“Pale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pale. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pale

Nglish: Translation of pale for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pale

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