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
as in watercolor
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pastel
Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 12 Feb. 2026
For a serene scene, choose pale and pastel flowers and display several together.
—Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Feb. 2026
Eric Barton, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
Pick a shade with less of the pastel Ely mentioned, instead opting for one that is deeper in tone and/or has a touch more warmth.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pastel
Adjective
Restock rumors started floating around on social media at the end of January, citing an online fan page that teased rumors of a pastel version.
—Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 12 Feb. 2026
For a serene scene, choose pale and pastel flowers and display several together.
—Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
Sunrise yoga There’s a moment, right before the sun lifts, when the sky fills with strips of pastel, a warm-up.
—Eric Barton, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
Pick a shade with less of the pastel Ely mentioned, instead opting for one that is deeper in tone and/or has a touch more warmth.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pastel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pastel
Adjective
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The As Ever founder styled herself simply with a gold circular choker and matching bracelet, with a pale pink manicure and her dark brunette hair lightly waved.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
16 Feb. 2026
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In the photo, Harry held Lilibet who wore a pale pink skirt and top and held red balloons.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Scrolling through the results, Benning then selected a diverse set of reference images and turned these into digital collages on an app on their phone, finally executing them on paper through the highly personal and painstaking medium of watercolor.—
Alex Bacon,
Artforum,
10 Feb. 2026
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Patchwork prints, especially done up in watercolor hues, are a refreshing way to dial up the saturation in the bathroom without settling on any one solid hue.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In February 2025, Pradeep Kumar Sood was struck and killed while crossing in a faded crosswalk on Peachtree Street near AmericasMart downtown.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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Manny Pacquiao’s attempt to extend his boxing career toward an Olympic appearance at 45 ran into age‑limit rules and concerns about the optics and health risks of watching a faded great take more punishment.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.—
USA Today staff,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
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These sheets of paper were then handed over to programmers who inputted the numerical values to make the pencil drawings come alive on-screen.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Right now, best-selling handbags and wallets are marked down by as much as 82 percent, with plenty of spring-ready pastels and light neutrals to choose from.—
Melanie Fincher,
Southern Living,
11 Feb. 2026
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Compared with other kava teas, these tea bags produce a beverage that is light and pleasant-tasting, with additional ingredients like cinnamon and carob to add flavor.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Made with gouache and pencil on paper, the work depicts a guitar and several everyday objects, including a bottle and a folded sheet of paper, arranged on a table in soft brown and gray tones.—
Dragana Jovanovic,
ABC News,
18 Oct. 2025
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With an airbrush borrowed from his job at an ad agency, Man Ray would blast droplets of gouache onto board or heavy paper and use stencils to organize the spray.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The decision to paint with tempera, the same medium used to create those Arabic maps, proved fortuitous.—
Zoe Si,
New Yorker,
19 Dec. 2025
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Paints and Brushes You can regularly find acrylic or tempera paint in a variety of colors.—
Kathy Barnes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
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There are already stickers with this texture that just stick to the surface, but nail experts can also do it from scratch by first applying nail polish and then a layer of clear acrylic.—
Paola Zamarripa,
Glamour,
10 Feb. 2026
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Equipped with radar, sensors, flashing lights that glint off the rotating acrylic cubes and real-time artificial intelligence that initiates dialogue with the viewer, the artwork is anything but static.—
Greg Mellen,
Oc Register,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pastel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pastel. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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