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
Surrounded by Notting Hill’s pastel town houses, the Portobello Hotel’s interiors are their own draw, sporting vibrant colors and unexpected textural pairings. — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2026 The muted lilac puts a pretty fall spin on the traditional pastel color. — Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 29 Oct. 2026
Noun
Isla Fisher shines in pastel pink at the Serpentine Summer Party on June 23 in London. — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026 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 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
  • In Goya’s First Breath (2025), a pale gold oval glows against a black background, looking something like a distant planet glimpsed through the darkness.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 13 Nov. 2026
  • Champagne, warmer whites and pale yellow tones are also a growing trend in bridal, with modern engagement rings, eternity bands and other iconic classics like studs and tennis bracelets being reimagined in more individualistic color ranges.
    — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of pale
Noun
  • Or, instead of starting each day with a number, begin with an image—a watercolor landscape, or a witty drawing—with the illustrator Christoph Niemann’s new calendar Every Day ($52).
    — Nicholas Blechman, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2026
  • At the Palazzo Reale, an entire wall is punctuated by Picabia’s loose pencil and watercolor studies of the severe faces of Sevillian women, dark tresses piled high under lace mantillas.
    — Nicole Kaack, ARTnews.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of watercolor
Adjective
  • The offering will be promoted online with shots featuring Klein, both on her own and with Melillo, as well as a video where the longtime friends reminisce barefoot in faded jeans and, of course, white T-shirts.
    — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Investigators described him as a white male in his late 50s, with a scruffy, gray beard who was wearing a faded blue baseball cap.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of faded
Noun
  • Known for her charcoal drawings, abstract paintings of New York City skyscrapers, and depictions of the nature, particularly in the American southwest, she is considered one of the most important artists of the 20th century.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026
  • More than 300,000 other tickets sold in the United States also won prizes ranging from $10 to $30,000 in the drawing, the lottery said.
    — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of drawing
Adjective
  • To prevent the seed heads from reseeding, do a preliminary light prune by trimming off the tops in fall, then cut the clumps back fully in spring.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The 100 percent polyester fabric is light, yet durable enough to protect you from unpredictable autumn weather.
    — Kate Donovan, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 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
  • What do an artificial intelligence researcher and an oil and acrylic painter have in common?
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 2026
  • This one blends acrylic and cotton fibers for a slightly lighter feel than traditional wool styles.
    — Kate Donovan, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 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 14 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pastel

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pastel

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