1
as in faded
lacking intensity of color
we chose a very pale pink for the walls of the room
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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
Larry Holder, New York Times, 11 July 2025
After all, casualties in Gaza pale in comparison to the Arab Muslim nation of Sudan.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 June 2025
Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 30 July 2025
Mismatched upholstered chairs, local art, and pale yellow walls give it an almost farmhouse feel.
—Molly Gregory, The Courier-Journal, 29 July 2025
Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2025
And then there’s the pressure, and make no mistake: the scrutiny Simmons faced in Brooklyn pales in comparison to what could be waiting should things go awry at Madison Square Garden.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pale
Adjective
Still, the Alcaraz racket sale pales in comparison to the $157,333.20 spent on Rafael Nadal’s racquet used in the finals of the 2017 French Open, where the lefty captured his 10th title at Roland Garros.
—Larry Holder, New York Times, 11 July 2025
After all, casualties in Gaza pale in comparison to the Arab Muslim nation of Sudan.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 June 2025
Verb
The main living space is open-plan and seamless, with pale stone floors and walls of windows that flood the room with light.
—Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 30 July 2025
Mismatched upholstered chairs, local art, and pale yellow walls give it an almost farmhouse feel.
—Molly Gregory, The Courier-Journal, 29 July 2025
Noun
However, that number pales in comparison to what happened in 1991, when 27,808 measles cases were reported in the United States.
—Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2025
And then there’s the pressure, and make no mistake: the scrutiny Simmons faced in Brooklyn pales in comparison to what could be waiting should things go awry at Madison Square Garden.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pale
Adjective
-
There is, also, something compensatory in a regard for faded footstools, thick boots and window curtains.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Aug. 2025
-
Dial options include matte black, tropical brown, and vintage navy, all featuring creamy Super-LumiNova GL old radium markers designed to evoke the faded lume of historic tool watches.—
Matthew Catellier,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
Adjective
-
Smith’s skin took on a new color, one more pallid with a blue, purple undertone.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
22 May 2025
-
Robert Vaughn is a particularly pallid villain, and the movie’s case against computers, uh, hasn’t aged too well.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
The law is vague and broad and included no room for considering the literary merit of the work, and so the result was a wave of book bans across the state.—
Peter Greene,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
My ideas around him were vague and uninformed, mostly of the stiff host tolerating the younger acts.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef, famed for its stunning colors and biodiversity, suffered its biggest ever decline last year after a marine heatwave bleached vast swathes of hard coral, a new report has found.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Since recording began in 1980, mass bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef, which can lead to widespread mortality, appeared first in 1998 and have been found in the last 27 years of steadily rising temperatures—in 1998, 2002, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2022, 2024 and 2025.—
Ian Dexter Palmer,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Winnie Harlow cools off in a light brown triangle bikini while on holiday in Formentera, Spain on July 30.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Each character has a base suite of moves including light and heavy attacks, dodges or blocks (depending on the hero), and special moves that expend a stamina meter.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
There have been studies done that show some randomness to red-zone success — or that year-to-year correlation is pretty faint.—
Sam McDowell
August 6,
Kansas City Star,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Monday's haze, while less dramatic, still obscured visibility and left a faint scent of smoke lingering in the air.—
Hannah Parry
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The company is already expanding eastward, and backlash over the CEO’s address will fade quickly.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The television had faded to a speck and Ted took my other hand and the three of us snaked from the room.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Alonso added another home run in the sixth inning, sending a first-pitch cutter from reliever Austin Cox over the center-field wall.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Inside, pecan brown wall paneling mixes with a crème de menthe color scheme, all of which ramps up the retro inside.—
Mike Jordan,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pale. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share