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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pales

2 of 2

noun

plural of pale
as in fences

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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 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
  1. fades
  2. fences
  3. bleaches
  4. walls
  5. brightens
  6. lets
  7. barriers
  8. hedges
Verb
  • Without someone to introduce the work, answer questions, or model what a career in the field looks like, the specialty fades into the background.
    — Gregory McDonald, STAT, 13 July 2026
  • Their heads are orange, stark against the dark blue hue of their torso, which fades to white, then orange and finally black down the length of their tails.
    — Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2026
Definition of fades
Noun
  • Under the proposal, the fences will have entrances that can be open or closed, with the ability to restrict pedestrian access should the Secret Service determine heightened security measures are necessary.
    — Tiago Ventura, Time, 14 July 2026
  • The sprawling Television City property is one of the most desirable locations in Los Angeles, sharing fences with the Original Farmers Market and the luxury Grove outdoor shopping center, each of which attracts millions of visitors every year.
    — Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
Definition of fences
Verb
  • His owner, Hannah Gleason from Oklahoma, told Newsweek that the merle gene isn’t a coloring gene rather than a gene that bleaches the fur and causes lack of pigmentation which can lead to birth defects, blindness, deafness, or sometimes all three.
    — Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Definition of bleaches
Noun
  • The room, its walls expensively craquelure'd to resemble fractured eggshells, its pale taffeta curtains billowing in the chill English breeze, is more Hollywood boudoir than office.
    — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 5 July 2026
  • Clean Grease Prints Similar to oil stains on clothes, chalk can also remove grease prints from doors, cabinets, walls, and other surfaces.
    — Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 5 July 2026
Definition of walls
Verb
  • Your 1st House of Identity brightens as the dynamic Sun in your sign squares structuring Saturn in your 10th House of Career.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2026
  • The brand uses tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a gentle, stabilized form of vitamin C that brightens and protects against premature aging.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 4 July 2026
Definition of brightens
Noun
  • Easing in lets kids absorb the energy gradually, gives you time to find your seats, hit the bathroom and grab snacks or merch without missing the opening notes.
    — Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 June 2026
  • Reaching out and sharing what’s going on lets in the light.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 7 June 2026
Definition of lets
Noun
  • Remove them when possible, or use barriers, playpens or elevated stands to keep pets away.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026
  • Remove hazardous plants when possible, or use barriers, playpens, leashes or elevated plant stands to keep pets away.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
Definition of barriers
Noun
  • Give bird feeders protection from predators; planting shrubs and dense hedges gives them places to hide.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 5 July 2026
  • Many hedges, bushes, and trees can block sight lines, so even the nosiest of neighbors will be forced to mind their own business.
    — Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 3 July 2026
Definition of hedges

Browse Nearby Words

paleoconservatives
pales
paling
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Cite this Entry

“Pales.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pales. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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