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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of shades
Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 14 June 2026
The Main Match Concealer is available in 22 shades, with careful consideration for South Asian undertones (which are often breezed by).
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 13 June 2026
This romantic, rosy look combines the gorgeous shades of the golden hour into a style that's both subtle and striking.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 June 2026
The first half of the film is essentially a political thriller—shades of 1974’s The Parallax View and similar films—as global tensions have the world teetering on the brink of World War III.
—Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 13 June 2026
While both rocking incredible pairs of shades, the two wore the same floral dress — one in black and one in white — at the Audrey Hepburn Hollywood for Children Family Film Festival in New York City in 1997.
—Alexandra Schonfeld, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
This same mood seeps into other popular shades.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 June 2026
Of course, this sleek sandal is more modern and chic, courtesy of its demure heel and rich-looking shades like deep olive, bronze gold, and striking red.
—Irene Richardson, InStyle, 13 June 2026
One of the island’s most iconic (and also inherently romantic) experiences is closing out the day in Mallory Square or aboard a catamaran cruise as the sky turns shades of pink and orange over the Gulf.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2026
Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 10 June 2026
Pruning And Thinning Peach Trees Peaches develop large, dense foliage that shades the interior branches.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 30 May 2026
Pulling the focal point to the base of the nails, this manicure shades over the cuticle border with metallic blue half-moons.
—Sunnah Rasheed, InStyle, 25 May 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
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
Noun
The vintage slip-ons mixed two shades of purple leather.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 14 June 2026
The Main Match Concealer is available in 22 shades, with careful consideration for South Asian undertones (which are often breezed by).
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 13 June 2026
This romantic, rosy look combines the gorgeous shades of the golden hour into a style that's both subtle and striking.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 June 2026
The first half of the film is essentially a political thriller—shades of 1974’s The Parallax View and similar films—as global tensions have the world teetering on the brink of World War III.
—Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 13 June 2026
While both rocking incredible pairs of shades, the two wore the same floral dress — one in black and one in white — at the Audrey Hepburn Hollywood for Children Family Film Festival in New York City in 1997.
—Alexandra Schonfeld, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
This same mood seeps into other popular shades.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 June 2026
Of course, this sleek sandal is more modern and chic, courtesy of its demure heel and rich-looking shades like deep olive, bronze gold, and striking red.
—Irene Richardson, InStyle, 13 June 2026
One of the island’s most iconic (and also inherently romantic) experiences is closing out the day in Mallory Square or aboard a catamaran cruise as the sky turns shades of pink and orange over the Gulf.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2026
Verb
This can lead to an overgrowth of grass that eventually shades out the white clover, shifting the competitive edge from the clover to the turf grass.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 10 June 2026
Pruning And Thinning Peach Trees Peaches develop large, dense foliage that shades the interior branches.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 30 May 2026
Pulling the focal point to the base of the nails, this manicure shades over the cuticle border with metallic blue half-moons.
—Sunnah Rasheed, InStyle, 25 May 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shades
Noun
-
As for its dark blue away jersey, that’s inspired by a traditional painting technique from capital city Buenos Aires — filete porteño — that’s used for ornamental design, combining brilliant, swirling colors with specific lettering styles.—
Steve Douglas,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
-
Residents arrive dressed in the school's maroon and white colors, bringing yearbooks, photographs and other memorabilia from their school days.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
Many of the paintings include a portrait of a Pullman porter or a maid surrounded by splashes of color and fragments of archival documents — newspaper clippings, timesheets, employee records.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2026
-
Get into the habit of cleaning up splashes and spilled liquids promptly to prevent them from absorbing into the surface, and avoid drenching the floor with excessive amounts of water when cleaning.—
Sophie Flaxman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
The railroad got cut to maximize walking spaces while the Haunted Mansion was removed out of respect for Chinese cultural sensitivities regarding death and spirits.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
For more than 48 hours, captain Lillian Zulu had been trying to keep her squad's spirits high despite mounting obstacles.—
Ryan Lenora Brown,
NPR,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
While darker colors remained visible, they could be mistaken for dirt, debris, or shadows underwater.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
-
My driver slowed on purpose, timing the arrival for that late-afternoon light when the stucco warms and shadows sharpen.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In the primary bathroom, Italian art students hand-painted the mirrors with similarly metallic hues, which complement the brass basins hammered by a Lebanese artist.—
Nicolas Milon,
Architectural Digest,
13 June 2026
-
Northern Lights illuminate the night sky with vivid purple and green hues above a distant cityscape following a strong solar storm coinciding with the spring equinox in Fairbanks, Alaska, United States, on March 20, 2026.—
Antonio Pequeño IV,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
Flash frames, scratches and specks of dust pop up randomly on the screen.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
This looks like tiny black or reddish-brown specks that resemble coffee grounds.—
Emily Hayes,
Martha Stewart,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Today, the massive complex attracts paranormal investigators who report apparitions, voices, and other unexplained phenomena.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
-
Why then, when discussing body image after weight changes, is our culture reaching for the language of vexing apparitions and death?—
Virgie Tovar,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Clarify terms with a counterpart by putting the agreement in writing and asking the one key question that protects both sides.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
15 June 2026
-
The claim that remote work breeds social isolation is a myth for some; instead, VI believe protects women from an exhausting, artificial stress tax.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shades. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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