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
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
-
Pick it up in gray, or choose from six additional colors, including dark green and khaki.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
12 Dec. 2025
-
The little cotton ball sheep are so fun and the colors punch you in the face.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
There’s a lot happening here—the shifting perspectives, the gradient splashes—but Arsh somehow orchestrates real beauty within the chaos.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
11 Dec. 2025
-
This 10-liter sack keeps clothes, electronics, and food protected from rain, river splashes, and condensation.—
Francesca Krempa,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Dec. 2025
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
-
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
-
Through it all, Kate and William balanced expanding royal duties with school runs and family life, even as illness still shadows the monarchy.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
19 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
With its collection of bright hues that dissolve into cooler tones, the Light & Shadow palette plays on Cloud Dancer’s ability to both absorb color and establish contrast.—
Tim Nelson,
Architectural Digest,
4 Dec. 2025
-
Cloud 9 also ushers in Moroney’s pink era, with the album’s cover swathed in candy-pink hues.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
4 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
These black specks show up each autumn, congregating on my screens and windowsill, and complicating my desire to open the window on a pleasant day.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The vacuum is dedicated to getting even the tiniest specks of dirt, circling back two or three times until the area is spotless.—
Terri Williams,
Architectural Digest,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The museum site has been a paranormal hotbed for decades, with sightings of apparitions, security camera footage capturing items flying off shelves, as well as experiences from staff members and visitors.—
Gregory Harutunian,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
That principle protects believers and nonbelievers alike.—
David Williamson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2026
-
But your router protects everything connected to it.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shades. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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