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
Marci Robin, Allure, 22 June 2026
There are faint smudges of pastel crayon on the wall and carved profanities with paint chips revealing the previous cerulean walls.
—Ashley Andreou, STAT, 22 June 2026
Kevin Giraud, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
Her lips were lined with a dark greige liner, but instead of a pale pink, prismatic pastel, or shimmery beige lip color, Smith opted for a color-changing gold that flashed with metallic champagne tones in one light and warm, fiery orange in others, depending on the angle and the light.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pastel
Adjective
Nail artist Michelle Humphrey shared a close-up of the awesome nail design, featuring the palest possible pastel periwinkle base in a soft-focus jelly finish.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 22 June 2026
There are faint smudges of pastel crayon on the wall and carved profanities with paint chips revealing the previous cerulean walls.
—Ashley Andreou, STAT, 22 June 2026
Noun
The trio wanted to speak to children directly, and using oil pastel was part of their approach.
—Kevin Giraud, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
Her lips were lined with a dark greige liner, but instead of a pale pink, prismatic pastel, or shimmery beige lip color, Smith opted for a color-changing gold that flashed with metallic champagne tones in one light and warm, fiery orange in others, depending on the angle and the light.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pastel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pastel
Adjective
-
Located on the northeast coast near Willikies, this peaceful area offers wide stretches of pale sand, clear shallow water, and easy access to some of Antigua’s most beautiful coastline.—
Jim Dobson,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
-
Too much sunlight, normally only a problem in areas with extremely hot climates, may cause plants to bleach out and look pale, which may be mistaken for yellowing.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
This maxi shirt dress in a watercolor gingham is an eye-catching twist on a classic Americana staple.—
Nneya Richards,
Travel + Leisure,
20 June 2026
-
Paul would need to be in his stone turret office on the idyllic watercolor of a campus five days a week.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Directed by Son Jae-gon and starring Gang Dong-won, Uhm Tae-goo, and Park Ji-hyun, the film tracks a faded first-generation K-pop co-ed dance trio making a reckless attempt to stage a comeback two decades after a plagiarism scandal dissolved their careers.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
22 June 2026
-
The one difference was a new layer of red bricks over the faded previous layer.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 2026
Noun
-
Rodriguez has been developing the concept for more than a decade, based on drawings and stories created with and for his children.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
18 June 2026
-
Making Art Creative activities like painting or drawing activate multiple regions of the brain.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
For example, swap heavy coats and boots for lighter layers and store the off-season items elsewhere.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
19 June 2026
-
From the cockpit through the cabin, the Citation CJ4 Gen3 provides much more than a simple update to one of Cessna’s most storied aircraft in the light-jet category.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Ari Hodara, a 59-year-old software engineer from Paris, won Tête de femme (1941), or head of a woman, a gouache-on-paper portrait, according to Reuters.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
-
Use a paintbrush or your finger to cover the egg with tempera paint.—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Crosby used acrylic paint, colored pencils, charcoal, and transfers on paper to create the massive 9-by-10 piece.—
CBS Chicago Team,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
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Made of clear acrylic, the entire back wall of the pool serves as a window into the wonderland around you.—
Stefanie Waldek,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pastel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pastel. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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