pastel 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of pastelnext
as in pale
lacking intensity of color a pastel blue to go with the pale pink walls

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pastel

2 of 2

noun

as in watercolor

Related 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 pastel
Adjective
The city's most recognizable historic homes may be the row of pastel Victorians known as the Painted Ladies, which were included in the opening credits of the sitcom Full House. — Marissa J. Lang, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026 This soft, pastel hue is predicted to be everywhere this fall, popping up on everything from tops and shoes to accessories. — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
While the pastel was trending earlier this year, it’s officially been overtaken by its more summery sister. — Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 24 June 2026 Among pop-up bars, bandstands and opulent, 19th century spa buildings painted in sherbet pastels, the Karlovy Vary Intl. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 21 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for pastel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pastel
  1. pale
  2. watercolor
  3. faded
  4. drawing
  5. light
  6. gouache
  7. tempera
  8. acrylic
Adjective
  • The pinkish squid glided two miles beneath the surface, its long, pale legs trailing from undulating fins, stunning scientists who know remarkably little about its diet, behavior or reproduction.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • If the opening sequence seemed pale and crude, there was quickly almost too much detail.
    — John Phipps, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of pale
Noun
  • Actor Nakadai Tatsuya provides the Devil’s voice, while the camera drifts across static watercolor paintings under Fukai Kuni’s art direction.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Their ever-changing gallery artists include oil, watercolor, photography, mixed media, digital art, wall-hangings, textiles, gourds, wood-turning, pottery, jewelry, glasswork, etc.
    — News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of watercolor
Adjective
  • Not to mention, its faded ivy tone is the perfect autumn hue.
    — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Ben Rahilly owns an appliance store, a gift shop, a furniture store and a concrete business in Newberry, a faded logging town about 60 miles west of the Canadian border.
    — Russ McNamara, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of faded
Noun
  • Not only did the client and architect scale back the building’s height based on the events in New York, but also, the drawings for that scheme were never publicly released.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • But, even more specifically, the story is in dialogue with the British artist David Austen’s minimal and piercing drawings.
    — Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of drawing
Adjective
  • Engineers have spent decades searching for lighter, tougher armor to withstand these cosmic bullets.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The facility serves general aviation aircraft including private, corporate, charter, air ambulance, law enforcement, fire rescue, flight training and light cargo.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of light
Noun
  • Christie’s estimates the large, rare tempera and gouache painting of a festive, folkloric Russian scene, which Kandinsky made in Paris, will fetch over $30 million.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The tarot is a full 78-card deck, with each card an original work of art, usually a composite of gouache painting and collage/lithography.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
Definition of gouache
Noun
  • Christie’s estimates the large, rare tempera and gouache painting of a festive, folkloric Russian scene, which Kandinsky made in Paris, will fetch over $30 million.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • This will be followed by a final period in Florence to learn the technique and historical evolution of egg tempera, to acquire ancient handweaving skills and expand her knowledge of its applications in the ecclesiastic context.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 7 May 2026
Definition of tempera
Noun
  • The turn away from deep French manicures also had classist and anti-Black undertones—long acrylic nails and intricate designs had a stigma of being unprofessional when worn on women of color.
    — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 9 Sep. 2026
  • With a medium-weight acrylic yarn cable knit, this infinity scarf could easily be mistaken for something more high-end.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of acrylic

Browse Nearby Words

pasted
pastel
pastels
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Cite this Entry

“Pastel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pastel. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pastel

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pastel

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