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 ceramic version comes in Cloud (off-white), Midnight (metallic black), Petal (blush pink), or Tide (pastel blue-green). — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 13 July 2026 The delicate floral pattern looks as if it were painted against the pastel background, and the sheets feel as such—lightweight and breezy. — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 13 July 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 classic English-style fish and chips is unsurprisingly great with English ales like amber, pale or brown ales.
    — Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 24 July 2026
  • Pet owners should monitor for persistent issues, pale gums, or collapse, and know their pet's normal vital signs.
    — Jen Reeder, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of pale
Noun
  • Use Watercolors to Capture the Scenery Bring a small watercolor kit to a local park or the beach and paint whatever catches your eye.
    — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 20 July 2026
  • This iteration of ivy decor is less like a realistic watercolor and more like a freer, more abstract one.
    — Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2026
Definition of watercolor
Adjective
  • Eric_Lynxweiler | Courtesy of Latinos in Heritage Conservation The Silver Platter, with its faded crimson awning along a stretch in Los Angeles’ Westlake District, doesn’t look like much from the outside.
    — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • The faded fabric, buttery-soft cotton, and contrast-trim neckline lend it a vintage vibe that won’t look out of place when paired with more contemporary pieces.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 28 June 2026
Definition of faded
Noun
  • The drawing also marks Powerball's expansion into the United Kingdom, bringing more players into the game and potentially setting the stage for even larger jackpots in the future.
    — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 26 July 2026
  • That would be the Powerball big prize, which will be up to $633 million for Monday’s drawing.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 July 2026
Definition of drawing
Adjective
  • In a video shared to Instagram on Thursday, July 16, the actress, 47, fluffs her new light blonde locks before making a heart with her hands.
    — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026
  • Moths prefer pale and light-colored flowers because these blossoms reflect moonlight much better and are easier for moths to find in the dark.
    — Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 21 July 2026
Definition of light
Noun
  • 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
  • The first iteration of the lottery was won by Jeffrey Gonano, a 25-year-old man from a suburb of Pittsburgh, who won a L’Homme au Gibus (1914), also a gouache on paper.
    — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Definition of gouache
Noun
  • 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
  • The decision to paint with tempera, the same medium used to create those Arabic maps, proved fortuitous.
    — Zoe Si, New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2025
Definition of tempera
Noun
  • The next issue was iterating through all the model changes necessary to incorporate the acrylic and NDF into the clock case.
    — Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 23 July 2026
  • The Crown released six references with PNDs throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s, switching up bezels from metal to acrylic, swapping between screw-down and pump-style pushers, updating movements, and tweaking that famous face.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 20 July 2026
Definition of acrylic

Browse Nearby Words

pasted
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Cite this Entry

“Pastel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pastel. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pastel

Nglish: Translation of pastel for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pastel

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