PALES Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

pales 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of pale

as in fades

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

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pales

2 of 2

noun

plural of pale

as in fences

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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 pales

Verb

While the prevalence of carfentanil still pales in comparison to fentanyl, experts are nevertheless alarmed by the increase of a substance researched for years as a chemical weapon and deployed by Russian forces on Chechen separatists in 2002. — ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026 Being the offense’s engine is a completely different (and more challenging) assignment than being an off-ball threat, and while Knueppel might already be the best off-ball player in the league, the value of that role still pales behind that of a big, ballhandling wing. — John Hollinger, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026 The team’s turnaround still pales in comparison to what Oklahoma City or San Antonio has done, emerging as title contenders with MVP-caliber players anchoring their lineups. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 14 Apr. 2026 His county’s population has grown by roughly by 32% since 1990, which pales in comparison with statewide growth of 74%. — Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2026 And the scale of this pullback still pales next to its 75% collapse during the 2021–2022 bear market. — Emily Nicolle, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2025 And for those who do manage to build a large emergency fund, the balance often pales in comparison to what a common medical procedure could cost, Volk said. — Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 22 Oct. 2025 Chicago only has 10 cranes in the sky, which pales in comparison to other major cities. — James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025 Applebee’s recently managed its first quarter of same-store sales growth after eight consecutive declines, a faint improvement, but one that pales in comparison to the surge at Chili’s or the steady gains at Olive Garden. — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pales

Verb

Stimulus trickling in Economists expect better growth for the rest of the year, as adverse weather fades and local governments accelerate fiscal spending.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
The sibling drama, meanwhile, rather fades out of view amid these loftier goings-on; the film’s narrative begins to feel devised by the old parlor game Consequences, repeatedly wrenched in erratic new directions.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of fades

Noun

Just as good fences make good neighbors, good contracts make good partners.

— Michael Lynch, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
The creature, smaller than a house cat and uniquely round, appeared in social media users’ posts waddling across lawns, fences, and cables around the city.

— Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of fences

Noun

The Chicago Cubs center fielder made an Air Jordan-style catch during Friday’s 6-1 win over the Miami Marlins, banging into a nook where two walls converge at funky loanDepot park.

— Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin broke out of Alcatraz by digging holes in the prison walls using spoons from the cafeteria.

— Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of walls

Verb

Along with many of the brand’s red light therapy tools, this device helps minimize fine lines and wrinkles, brightens your complexion, and, well, makes your skin look better.

— Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
And as a lamp lights up a dark room, our faithfulness to God brightens the path for others, including government officials, to be more faithful, too.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of brightens

Noun

Long-standing problems and new barriers are combining to make a career in dietetics less appealing and less financially feasible, just as the nation is increasing its appetite for nutrition in health care.

— Lauren Chan, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026
Both mainly reduced trade barriers and committed all three governments to avoid policies that inhibited commercial flows with one another.

— Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026