1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

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

Relevance

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
  • Rooms and suites are classically decorated, with cream linens, tan-colored leather headboards, and pale hardwood floors.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The same pale pink plaid print that appeared in Collina Strada’s fall 2026 show resurfaced in its Garden Pop rug and Plaid Garden sofa.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of pale
Noun
  • The piece’s subject is difficult to see from the gallery, but when viewed from outside, its reference to a watercolor by Marisol in Buffalo AKG’s collection becomes clear.
    — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of watercolor
Adjective
  • The quasi-patriotic palette got contemporary edge from faded lines running through the red and dark navy stripes, which shifted between vertical and horizontal directions.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Choose between four wearable shades—a dark indigo, a medium-light blue, a super faded light wash, and black.
    — Jordan Julian, InStyle, 11 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
  • The Miu Miu aesthetic is reinterpreted with a light and contemporary design elevated by the vintage aura of suede and deco leather.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Its light brown coat is patterned with dark, leopardlike spots.
    — Paola Flores, Los Angeles Times, 19 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
  • Luxe Dominoes boxes are made from a single piece of acrylic that's heated, folded and then flame-polished to give the sets unique brilliance – treated more like glass than acrylic.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Beyond its stylish design, the matching set is made from a polyester, acrylic, and polyamide fabric that feels luxurious, buttery-soft, and cozy enough for chilly fall days.
    — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of acrylic

Browse Nearby Words

pasted
pastel
pastels
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pastel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pastel. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on pastel

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pastel

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of volition

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18
See More

Popular

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
crayons-in-a-circle
Guess the Color Quiz Questions that use the whole box of crayons.
See All