pale 1 of 3

adjective

ˈpāl How to pronounce pale (audio)
Definition of palenext
1
as in faded
lacking intensity of color we chose a very pale pink for the walls of the room

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pallid
lacking a healthy skin color after a week with the flu, she was deathly pale and noticeably thinner

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in vague
not seen or understood clearly a pale outline off in the distance proved to be someone out for a walk

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pale

2 of 3

verb

as in to bleach
to make white or whiter by removing color the sun eventually paled my bright blue shirt

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pale

3 of 3

noun

as in paling

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Dissimilar 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 pale
Adjective
The aesthetic borrows from grunge and indie sleaze, blending undone eyeliner with pale, textured skin. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026 Signs of heat exhaustion that parents should look for include heavy sweating, weakness or fainting, cold or pale skin and muscle cramps. — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
Obviously, paled in comparison to some of the other people singing that night. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2026 And while Shakira drew big cheers, as did the appearance of Bieber, these paled in comparison to the cheers and oh’s and ah’s in the crowd throughout the gripping final. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 19 July 2026
Noun
Some things do seem beyond the pale to this group. — Justin Worland, Time, 28 May 2026 Thus, anger management classes and guidebooks have risen to this challenge and seek to aid people in managing anger that is beyond the pale. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for pale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pale
  1. faded
  2. pallid
  3. vague
  4. bleach
  5. wall
  6. light
  7. faint
  8. fade
Adjective
  • The team behind this research studied 14 candidates for faded or remnant radio galaxies found in a region of the sky over Earth, studied intensely by the XMM-Newton X-ray spacecraft, called the XMM–Newton Large-Scale Structure (XMM–LSS) field.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • How to Deadhead Coneflowers Deadheading coneflowers is as simple as removing the faded flower heads.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of faded
Adjective
  • Young people in particular have soured on the technology over the last year, a development that may at least partially be explained by a pallid entry-level job market.
    — T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • This mordant melange takes off from the opening sequence, when Niaz finds himself at a casting call for an indie directed by Aza (Elene Mausuradze), an androgynous female director with the pallid look of a Tim Burton extra.
    — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of pallid
Adjective
  • Maybe you’re tempted to overanalyze someone’s tone or a friend’s vague promise.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Aquarius January 20 – February 18 A vague request could create an impressive amount of unnecessary work today.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of vague
Verb
  • There have also been concerns over toilet paper that is bleached, as bleaching can create dioxins, and concerns over toilet paper that includes formaldehyde, a carcinogen.
    — Jillian Pretzel, Time, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The researchers first treated the cotton with sodium dithionite, a reducing agent, before bleaching it with hydrogen peroxide under alkaline conditions.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of bleach
Noun
  • Values on a wall ask people to interpret abstractions, while stories carry judgment and understanding inside them.
    — Bryan Adams, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • While the tents have the most charm, imo—ivory canvas walls, Adirondack chairs on wooden porches, true beds with sheepskin throws and wooden frames—the cabins and suites are unsurprisingly the more comfortable option.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of wall
Adjective
  • Chelsea, despite missing out on a late move for Lamine Camara, and Tottenham have improved considerably, but that is more a reflection of previous dysfunction — and a lighter schedule — than inspired recruitment.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • For example, the original pipe was aluminum, which is lighter and easier to move into the steep canyon but is more susceptible to breaking.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of light
Adjective
  • This stage begins when the moon enters the faint edges of Earth's shadow, called the penumbra.
    — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • That year, the Perseids will peak in the glare of a waxing moon just four days from turning full, and the moonlight will hide many of the shower's fainter shooting stars.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of faint
Verb
  • As his memories begin to fade, he's left in a panic, not wanting to lose everything.
    — Grace Dean, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • It was designed to give Hawthorne’s fading downtown a boost with three major department stores — JCPenney in addition to the Broadway and Montgomery Ward — as well as numerous shops and a movie theater.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of fade

Browse Nearby Words

palavers
pale
paled
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Cite this Entry

“Pale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pale. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pale

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pale

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