as in pale
lacking a healthy skin color
the shock of the news left him paled and shaking
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in faded
to make white or whiter by removing color
the sun eventually paled my bright blue shirt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paled
Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
The stakes paled in comparison to the 2024 NBA Finals, but Friday’s primetime showdown between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics carried a heightened sense of emotion for both teams.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
Torok’s photos were part of the administration’s effort to shape public opinion – though many commentators pointed out that those efforts have paled in comparison to past American war efforts.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
That paled in comparison with Canada and Britain, which respectively signed eight and 12 documents with China last month during visits by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Britain’s Starmer.
—Reuters, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
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
As the sick, wounded and displaced waited to cross in both directions, health officials said the small number allowed to exit so far paled beside Gaza’s tremendous needs.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Its economy and military paled in comparison with the United States’s industrial might, blue-water navy, and network of overseas bases.
—Caleb Pomeroy, Foreign Affairs, 24 Dec. 2025
Verb
Ultimately, all of these explanations paled in comparison to the big one.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
The stakes paled in comparison to the 2024 NBA Finals, but Friday’s primetime showdown between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics carried a heightened sense of emotion for both teams.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
Torok’s photos were part of the administration’s effort to shape public opinion – though many commentators pointed out that those efforts have paled in comparison to past American war efforts.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
That paled in comparison with Canada and Britain, which respectively signed eight and 12 documents with China last month during visits by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Britain’s Starmer.
—Reuters, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
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
As the sick, wounded and displaced waited to cross in both directions, health officials said the small number allowed to exit so far paled beside Gaza’s tremendous needs.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Its economy and military paled in comparison with the United States’s industrial might, blue-water navy, and network of overseas bases.
—Caleb Pomeroy, Foreign Affairs, 24 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paled
Adjective
-
For your own pale pink feathery moment, try this Midi slip dress from Anthropologie ($90).—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The neutral tones of her makeup paired perfectly with her pale, champagne gown, and her oodles of diamonds feel completed by her jewelry-like nail art.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
What if a slightly delusional but still charming actress faded toward irrelevance, only to claw her way back by way of a reality TV show?—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
-
As crypto moved from fringe to mainstream to cultural punch line, its promise of revolution faded.—
Clara Molot,
Vanity Fair,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
Verb
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The feat, coupled with her easygoing personality and signature bleached halo hair, launched her to global fame.—
Zara Irshad,
San Francisco Chronicle,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Other pictures captured include the Kylie Cosmetics founder in a Dolce & Gabbana bra, Hermès pants, a belt by Balenciaga, dangling earrings by David Webb, and black boots that hit just below her knees, her eyebrows bleached for the shot.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The imposing exterior, made of natural Caribbean limestone and coral stone, is brightened up with turquoise gates and terrace railing.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
19 Mar. 2026
-
But, as the evening progressed, the editor’s mood visibly brightened.—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paled. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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