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
But when taken together, our present divisions pale in comparison to the historical record. — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 5 July 2026 From a dark-sky site, the Milky Way should slowly emerge as a pale, uneven band rising from Sagittarius and Scorpius and climbing into the summer sky. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
Like most sequels, Beckham’s second act with the Giants will likely pale in comparison to the original. — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 2 June 2026 Past efforts at protecting the Declaration paled in comparison to the full power of modern science brought to bear for the first time to preserve the timeworn parchment. — Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Noun
This strapless pale pink Armani Privé gown shows just how much Queen Bey has refined her style over the years. — Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE, 4 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
  • Eric_Lynxweiler | Courtesy of Latinos in Heritage Conservation The Silver Platter, with its faded crimson awning along a stretch in Los Angeles’ Westlake District, doesn’t look like much from the outside.
    — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • The faded fabric, buttery-soft cotton, and contrast-trim neckline lend it a vintage vibe that won’t look out of place when paired with more contemporary pieces.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 28 June 2026
Definition of faded
Adjective
  • Opponents of the proposal want the county to consider different locations for the park site, arguing the project may harm a variety of native species to the area, including the western spadefoot toad and pallid bats.
    — Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2026
  • While disrupting the business of an American multinational company may seem a pallid response to the destruction of an Iranian primary school where more than a hundred children were killed, such asymmetric attacks in the physical and digital realms have been a feature of this conflict.
    — Sue Halpern, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
Definition of pallid
Adjective
  • There’s no reason to think, for example, that decisions made by political appointees based on vague standards would be any more transparent than those made by peer reviewers based on scientific merit.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026
  • American Mission’s partnership with the company, as well as the ads’ vague message about Donalds, exemplify the opaque nature of the AI industry’s spending in the 2026 election cycle.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
Definition of vague
Verb
  • That buildup can bleach existing pigment from within and damage the enzymes hair needs to keep producing melanin.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • After seeing their brows bleached for the first time at our shoot, Megan and Daniela’s excited screams cause everyone’s heads to whip toward the glam room in a mixture of both fear and curiosity.
    — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 25 June 2026
Definition of bleach
Noun
  • Originally more than 22,965 feet long, the ancient walls wind over the hillsides, offering stunning views of the Dalmatian countryside and the 4,000-year-old salt pans below.
    — Tia Lovisa Moreira, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2026
  • On the walls, black-and-white printouts of newspaper articles, magazines and book pages looked like they were plucked from a Pinterest board on scrapbooking.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of wall
Adjective
  • Some hormonal birth control methods can make periods much lighter or stop completely, which can alleviate symptoms associated with painful periods.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • The sheen is light as a feather, blends like a dream, and at SPF 50, is a serious sunscreen in its own right.
    — Abbey Hudetz, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
Definition of light
Adjective
  • Croatia looked to have tied the game in the final moments, but the faintest of touches by a Croatian player made Croatia offside.
    — Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 3 July 2026
  • Look almost directly above Mars for a much fainter, star-like point of light.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of faint
Verb
  • But rental business owners like Zhao observed that the rental prices have begun to slide as novelty surrounding these stunt-performing androids fades.
    — John Liu, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
  • The combination of hyaluronic and azelaic acid does wonders to fade dark spots, soothe redness, and deeply hydrate.
    — Olivia Dubyak, InStyle, 30 June 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 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pale

Nglish: Translation of pale for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pale

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