1
as in colors
a property that becomes apparent when light falls on an object and by which things that are identical in form can be distinguished
a lovely shade of blue
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in splashes
a very small amount
just a shade taller than his dance partner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in spirits
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people
spirits and shades haunting the night
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shades
Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 26 Apr. 2026
London is the capital of pristine facades, often painted in wedding-cake shades of cream or ivory; the city’s dominant aesthetic is a literal whitewash.
—Mark O’Connell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
With his ability to win inside or outside, his game has shades of 2025 Houston Texans draft pick Jayden Higgins.
—Zac Jackson, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
The bookcase is on sale in seven colors, including dark and light wood shades, black, white, green, and blue.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
Sepals and petals appear in shades of orange, reddish brown, and green with purple veins.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
In Europe, don a pair of classic shades with colorful or mirrored lenses instead.
—Jamie Davis Smith, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2026
While results vary, most formulas can lighten your teeth between two and eight shades in about two to eight weeks.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
In between, there are 46 rooms, suites, and apartments in soothing shades; a serene reprieve from the 24-hour buzz on the doorstep.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026
So that's the thing that keeps us cooler, shades us.
—March 9, CBS News, 9 Mar. 2026
Basil shades the ground around tomatoes, conserving soil moisture.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 27 Feb. 2026
New Zealand actor Shand shades him with welcome nuance.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
The skin tone shades work as a complexion product or a powder, while the universal shades can be used to prep the skin.
—Essence Wiley, InStyle, 7 Feb. 2026
Tall grass also shades weed seedlings, preventing them from expanding and overtaking desirable grass plants, better than short turf.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2025
The jersey has Sacramento emblazoned across the chest with a new palette of deep ink purple and bright violet accents, shades the team has never used before.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2025
But Slate also shades Nikki with such specific nuances, anxieties, and sadnesses that, even with a performance as powerful as Williams’s at its center, the show develops into a two-hander, something of a love story between the pair.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
Pastel Colors Pastel shades are sweet in the right context, but your garage door is not the place to use them, designer Dijana Savic-Jambert says.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 26 Apr. 2026
London is the capital of pristine facades, often painted in wedding-cake shades of cream or ivory; the city’s dominant aesthetic is a literal whitewash.
—Mark O’Connell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
With his ability to win inside or outside, his game has shades of 2025 Houston Texans draft pick Jayden Higgins.
—Zac Jackson, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
The bookcase is on sale in seven colors, including dark and light wood shades, black, white, green, and blue.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
Sepals and petals appear in shades of orange, reddish brown, and green with purple veins.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
In Europe, don a pair of classic shades with colorful or mirrored lenses instead.
—Jamie Davis Smith, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2026
While results vary, most formulas can lighten your teeth between two and eight shades in about two to eight weeks.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
In between, there are 46 rooms, suites, and apartments in soothing shades; a serene reprieve from the 24-hour buzz on the doorstep.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
Unfortunately, Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) is invasive and quickly shades out other plants.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026
So that's the thing that keeps us cooler, shades us.
—March 9, CBS News, 9 Mar. 2026
Basil shades the ground around tomatoes, conserving soil moisture.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 27 Feb. 2026
New Zealand actor Shand shades him with welcome nuance.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
The skin tone shades work as a complexion product or a powder, while the universal shades can be used to prep the skin.
—Essence Wiley, InStyle, 7 Feb. 2026
Tall grass also shades weed seedlings, preventing them from expanding and overtaking desirable grass plants, better than short turf.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2025
The jersey has Sacramento emblazoned across the chest with a new palette of deep ink purple and bright violet accents, shades the team has never used before.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2025
But Slate also shades Nikki with such specific nuances, anxieties, and sadnesses that, even with a performance as powerful as Williams’s at its center, the show develops into a two-hander, something of a love story between the pair.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shades
Noun
-
The Maroon name refers to one of the school’s colors and is a homage to the University of Chicago, which goes by the same name, according to local historians.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Not only will marigolds trap the aphids and whiteflies that threaten your cheerful gerbera daisies, but the combination of colors between the two blooms makes for the most brilliant and happy summer garden.—
Heather Bien,
The Spruce,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some splashes of color help enliven it too.—
Adam Williams
April 23,
New Atlas,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Naturally, the color palette revolves around a joyful, beachy vibe—all designed in shades of pink, citrus, and red, with splashes of leopard prints and snake textures.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The yarns of Joe Turner interweave gradually, everyday chit-chat, bargaining, and flirtation interlocking over time with threads of mysticism — both the ghosts of a brutal history and the ancestral spirits that stand protective and defiant like a phalanx of angels with shining swords.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The voyage’s final night includes a spirits tasting under the Lyngen Alps at Aurora Spirit, the world’s northernmost distillery, and accommodation in its fjord-side cabins.—
Karen Gardiner,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The corridor before him seems never-ending, extending miles, shadows short and dark, shadows light and long.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Then escape the skyscraper shadows into Hong Kong's New Territories.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
With the collection intertwined with the world of racing since its debut in 1986, the Tag Heuer Formula 1 watch has become a symbol of performance while simultaneously showcasing its distinct design, vibrant hues and innovative technology.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Rooms Toor's 234 rooms and suites take their design cues from the city’s green spaces, translating into muted hues, organic patterns, and warm wood tones that feel both current and calming.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Featuring bolder, thicker spots at the top and more refined, micro specks down the skirt, this mini dress makes all-day, fashionable wear easier than ever.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Silvery or mottled patches on leaves, brown or distorted petal edges, dark specks (feces) or flower buds that fail to open are signs of thrips.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There certainly seem to be apparitions in this music, some presence apart from the four musicians and the throngs of fans, which is intensified by the visceral collision of so many sounds.—
Stephen M. Deusner,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Those themes are alive here, as the ghosts who visit Depp’s Scrooge are intricate, terrifying apparitions not suitable for the whole family.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
City Council Speaker Julie Menin deserves credit for advancing legislation that protects synagogues, churches, mosques and other places of worship by deploying safety perimeters keeping protesters at a distance.—
Elliot Cosgrove,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Pro hairstylist Ryan Richman previously described this Briogeo cream as a lightweight, silicone-free heat-protectant cream that minimizes frizz, smooths hair, enhances shine, and protects against heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.—
Deanna Pai,
Vogue,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shades. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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