as in pale
lacking intensity of color
a pastel blue to go with the pale pink walls
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Kris Slugg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 June 2026
With just 158,00 residents, the island off the coast of South America is best known for its pastel colonial architecture, extensive coral reefs, and stretches of golden sands.
—
Alan Chazaro,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 June 2026
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
15 June 2026
The look features a sheer, milky pink shade that sits between a soft blush and a creamy pastel.
—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pastel
Adjective
Participants will learn how to use pastel tints and expressive doodles to design ocean waves, seashells, coral, seaweed, and coastal plants.
—
Kris Slugg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 June 2026
With just 158,00 residents, the island off the coast of South America is best known for its pastel colonial architecture, extensive coral reefs, and stretches of golden sands.
—
Alan Chazaro,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 June 2026
Noun
Over the years, the grocery store chain has offered several variations of the viral totes—from pastel to Halloween-inspired.
—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
15 June 2026
The look features a sheer, milky pink shade that sits between a soft blush and a creamy pastel.
—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pastel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pastel
Adjective
-
That’s also when a Seattle gastroenterologist named Walter Voegtlin published a pale volume with a drawing of a loincloth-wearing hominid on the cover.
-
Bartlett’s character is like a rock slab, a vestige of an ancient religion, brought to life in overlapping strips of muslin, linen, and leather in shades of dove, cream, gray, and pale blue, with his hood pulled tight around his face and his hands wrapped in mittens.
Noun
-
In the summers since, aura nails have softened, turning into watercolor-like gradients that float across understated nude bases.
-
This maxi shirt dress in a watercolor gingham is an eye-catching twist on a classic Americana staple.
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.
-
The one difference was a new layer of red bricks over the faded previous layer.
Noun
-
The winning numbers for the Wednesday, June 24, Powerball drawing are 13, 14, 16, 21, 38, and the Powerball is 14.
-
The quirky chain has not officially announced the location, but a Formal Site Development Plan submitted to the city late last year included drawings identifying Trader Joe’s as the occupant.
Adjective
-
The uninterrupted sun dries out soil increasing drought risk, and light winds allow pollutants to build up, worsening air quality, particularly in urban areas.
-
The light rail’s Green Line will reopen after construction of the new light rail station at Seventh Street and Railyards Boulevard is completed, which is expected later this summer.
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.
-
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.
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.
-
Use a paintbrush or your finger to cover the egg with tempera paint.
Noun
-
The Johnson-Sea-Link was a research submersible with a clear acrylic sphere that gave its pilot and observer a panoramic view of the deep.
-
Getty Images for Shop the Sample Its design blends industrial and Hollywood glamour, featuring polished concrete floors accented by a striking white acrylic piano.
Cite this Entry
“Pastel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pastel. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
