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
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 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 classic brushes come in two different sizes and 15 to 20 colors each, with every one working well.—
Jennifer Weil,
Footwear News,
8 May 2026
-
But if our test cars are any indication of what’s possible during the ordering process, these accent colors can be altered or removed as would-be owners see fit.—
Bradley Iger,
Robb Report,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Caffeine powders, energy drink mixes and juice splashes can pile on stimulants and sugar quickly, especially when stacked together in the same drink.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
7 May 2026
-
Morning is generally better than evening, because any splashes have time to dry before nightfall.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
29 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
-
Taking in the sunny day, mom and daughter opted for two different takes on springtime hues and styles.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
9 May 2026
-
Stove-pipe sponges, which grow to about five feet tall, are slender, cylindrical, and often in hues of purple, while wide giant barrel sponges typically display a reddish tint.—
Erik Trinidad,
Travel + Leisure,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
From the summit of Monte Gambarogno, the towns hugging the shore of Lake Maggiore appear as tiny specks, dwarfed by the snowcapped southern Alps to the north.—
Lisa Kadane,
Travel + Leisure,
1 May 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
-
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
-
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 10 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
