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
Caitlyn Fitzpatrick, PEOPLE, 21 June 2026
The Owen model introduced last season was presented through new materials, color shades reinterpreting the boat shoe’s aesthetic.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 21 June 2026
Drought-tolerant once established, crepe myrtles bloom in the heat of summer in shades of purple, pink, red, or white.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 21 June 2026
Forky has shades of Buster Bluth, the socially inept youngest sibling in Arrested Development, and Gary Walsh, the always available aide in VEEP, who brings co-dependence to dizzying new heights.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2026
The home kit — worn by Lionel Messi for his hat trick against Algeria on Tuesday — features three shades of blue on its stripes, an homage to the South American nation’s World Cup-winning uniforms from 1978, 1986 and 2022.
—Steve Douglas, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026
On June 18, the trio posed for photos, coordinating in shades of black and gray.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 19 June 2026
This same mood seeps into other popular shades.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 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
This button-down is available in two shades of blue, black, white, and blue-and-white stripes — all easy-to-wear neutrals.
—Caitlyn Fitzpatrick, PEOPLE, 21 June 2026
The Owen model introduced last season was presented through new materials, color shades reinterpreting the boat shoe’s aesthetic.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 21 June 2026
Drought-tolerant once established, crepe myrtles bloom in the heat of summer in shades of purple, pink, red, or white.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 21 June 2026
Forky has shades of Buster Bluth, the socially inept youngest sibling in Arrested Development, and Gary Walsh, the always available aide in VEEP, who brings co-dependence to dizzying new heights.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2026
The home kit — worn by Lionel Messi for his hat trick against Algeria on Tuesday — features three shades of blue on its stripes, an homage to the South American nation’s World Cup-winning uniforms from 1978, 1986 and 2022.
—Steve Douglas, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026
On June 18, the trio posed for photos, coordinating in shades of black and gray.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 19 June 2026
This same mood seeps into other popular shades.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 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
-
Thank you for a plethora of news on June 17 that didn’t crush our spirits.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
-
As one of the world’s largest spirits conglomerates, the company certainly had access to some choice, well-aged stocks.—
David Thomas Tao,
Forbes.com,
21 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
-
Alternatively, begin with a light base and pair it with an equally subtle tip shade—think non-stark, tonal hues for a cohesive, airy finish.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
19 June 2026
-
These particles reflect the water’s color back to the surface—hence the strikingly intense turquoise hues.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
19 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
-
That disincentivizes physical attacks (such as cold-boot attacks) and better protects user data.—
Jon Martindale,
PC Magazine,
22 June 2026
-
Curbing an infectious disease abroad protects health at home, reducing the risk of cross-border transmission and lowering the chance of new, costlier public health threats.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
22 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shades. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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