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
Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 3 May 2026
The company boldly rebranded in 2014, replacing a color scheme that featured two shades of blue.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026
Yellow and red shades could actually lower your home’s value by up to $4,000.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 3 May 2026
Their bright blooms are available in shades of red, yellow, cream, and jewel tones.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 2 May 2026
Lilacs are an icon of spring, blooming in shades from deep purple to pale lavender to white all over the Chicago area.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
Two shades of blue and a white star.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 2 May 2026
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
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
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
The pale tortilla was dappled with shades of brown, toasty and tawny—simplicity, done superlatively.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 3 May 2026
The company boldly rebranded in 2014, replacing a color scheme that featured two shades of blue.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026
Yellow and red shades could actually lower your home’s value by up to $4,000.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 3 May 2026
Their bright blooms are available in shades of red, yellow, cream, and jewel tones.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 2 May 2026
Lilacs are an icon of spring, blooming in shades from deep purple to pale lavender to white all over the Chicago area.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
Two shades of blue and a white star.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 2 May 2026
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
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
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 early read was that Alphabet , Microsoft , Meta Platforms , and Amazon all passed with flying colors, but beneath the strong headline numbers, a more nuanced debate is taking shape.—
Paulina Likos,Zev Fima,
CNBC,
1 May 2026
-
Designed by the label’s then creative director, Olivier Rousteing, the unorthodox gown was sculpted based on a cast of Tyla’s body, then created out of three different colors of sand mixed with micro-crystal studs, providing extra sparkle down to the tip of her mermaid train.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Morning is generally better than evening, because any splashes have time to dry before nightfall.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Some splashes of color help enliven it too.—
Adam Williams
April 23,
New Atlas,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That put an end to the zero-tariff trade environment for exporters on both sides of the Atlantic and slapped new duties onto Scotch whisky and other spirits sent to America from Britain.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
1 May 2026
-
The bar program, while still in development, is set to involve agave spirits and Mexican wines, with many sourced from the Valle de Guadalupe.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 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
-
Garden verbenas are vigorous bloomers, producing large, rounded flower clusters in cool blue and purple hues, radiant red, pink, or peach, and even white and bicolor combos.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
2 May 2026
-
Using the brand’s high-quality fabrics and silhouettes, the collection embodies the spirit of Miami with its blue and pink hues, motorsport artwork and neutrals to create a classic look.—
Kanika Talwar,
Footwear News,
1 May 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
-
TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray protects hair from heat damage caused by curling irons, flat irons and blow dryers.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
-
Ticket to Work protects beneficiaries during their transition.—
French Hill,
Baltimore Sun,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shades. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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