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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pastel
Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 24 Apr. 2026
The Swiss brand just unveiled a limited collection of five new watches done up in a slew of pastel hues, ranging from a soft pink to a sage green.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2026
Kara Nesvig, Allure, 3 Mar. 2026
Opt for a baby pastel blue to still be close enough to a versatile neutral.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pastel
Adjective
Pair with some pastel, scalloped napkins to complete the French country look.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 24 Apr. 2026
The Swiss brand just unveiled a limited collection of five new watches done up in a slew of pastel hues, ranging from a soft pink to a sage green.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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
Opt for a baby pastel blue to still be close enough to a versatile neutral.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pastel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pastel
Adjective
-
The pale tortilla was dappled with shades of brown, toasty and tawny—simplicity, done superlatively.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
-
Each Trader Joe’s Potted Multi-Bloom Hydrangea comes with several fluffy blooms, ranging in color from pale blue to pink or purple.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 May 2026
Noun
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The watercolor artist recently moved to San Diego from Rhode Island.—
Regina Elling,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Watercolor nails Inspired by Impressionist paintings, watercolor nails put an artistic spin on the season’s texture trend as translucent polishes are swirled together for a diffused finish that feels fluid and expressive.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Jenner opted to wear a pair of faded yellow jeans, a Guizio white tank top and a belly chain.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
-
For the second time in a week, the Dodgers made a minor-league acquisition of a faded pitching prospect with impressive velocity but poor control.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Nearly 250,000 other tickets sold in the United States also won prizes ranging from $10 to $2 million in the drawing, the lottery said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
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The winning numbers for Tuesday’s drawing are 12 – 22 – 50 – 51 – 55 with a Mega Ball of 10.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Police discovered him holding the device during the June protest, leading him to flee and discard the unlighted Molotov cocktail while holding a lighter.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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In March, Nvidia invested $4 billion in two companies — Coherent and Lumentum — that develop the lasers and components that help convert data between light and electrical signals, which are then carried through Corning's fiber-optic cables.—
Katie Tarasov,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
Noun
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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
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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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Use a paintbrush or your finger to cover the egg with tempera paint.—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
14 Mar. 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
Noun
-
Finish with a protective acrylic clear coat to keep the paint from chipping.—
Ashley Poskin,
Martha Stewart,
2 May 2026
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The clear acrylic design gives you a front-row view of visitors, while five ultra-strong suction cups secure it to a window—no drilling or hanging required.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pastel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pastel. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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