shade 1 of 2

noun

ˈshād How to pronounce shade (audio)
Definition of shadenext
1
as in shadow
partial darkness due to the obstruction of light rays it was hard to see in the shade after being in the brilliant sunlight the trees cast shade

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Relevance

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2
as in shadows
a time or place of little or no light enjoying the cool shade of the evening

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hue
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

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4
as in splash
a very small amount just a shade taller than his dance partner

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5
as in apparition
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people spirits and shades haunting the night

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shade

2 of 2

verb

as in to protect
to shelter (something) from light and heat the trees shaded us quite nicely from the noonday sun

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 shade
Noun
Neutral shades such as off-white, black, and caramel are dominating the color palette of this trend, but there is no shortage of bold proposals in metallic silver and vibrant shades like red or electric blue for the more daring among us. — René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 3 July 2026 The only figure, man or woman, not shown wearing identical American-flag blue is the poet Phillis Wheatley, who wears a pastel shade and who also happens to be the only Black person featured in the gallery. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
Verb
Position it in the corner of your backyard to shade a freestanding firepit surrounded by Adirondack chairs. — Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 30 June 2026 Dogs and other pets should be provided with cool water and shade and actively monitored when outside during the heat wave; keep them indoors if possibe. — Darius Johnson, CBS News, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for shade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shade
  1. shadow
  2. shadows
  3. hue
  4. splash
  5. apparition
  6. protect
  7. dusk
  8. dark
Noun
  • Casting a shadow, though, was that controversy over Balogun’s reinstatement, and the unseemly likelihood politics have butted in where politics don’t belong and should never be.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
  • Without a connection to Apple, the iPhone is going to be a mere shadow of itself.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of shadow
Noun
  • Dark figures were darting through the shadows—Germans were carrying sacks and pillows to their building.
    — Vasily Grossman, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • Reflections, shadows and motion blur can all reduce detection confidence.
    — Freddy Kuo, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of shadows
Noun
  • While warm, earthy walls create a harmonious look, cooler hues, such as soft blues and grays, add a refreshing contrast.
    — Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2026
  • Researchers recently visualized a set of images across a spectrum of red, white, and blue hues compiled by the Chandra X-ray Observatory as well as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 July 2026
Definition of hue
Noun
  • Mysterio came back with a baseball slide into a splash on the outside.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Betts is making his splash at the plate again.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 29 June 2026
Definition of splash
Noun
  • Reports of strange sounds, apparitions, and unexplained encounters continue to attract visitors.
    — 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
Definition of apparition
Verb
  • The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say.
    — CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026
  • There aren’t enough ships to protect the reopening trade routes from pirates.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026
Definition of protect
Noun
  • In the early evening, just before dusk, the sun peeks through the trees and warms the bench.
    — Staff Photographer, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Each light fully charges in about five hours of direct sunlight, then automatically turns on at dusk and off at dawn for an effortless set-it-and-forget-it operation.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2026
Definition of dusk
Noun
  • Even an aggressive plaintiff would know that lingering past dark wouldn’t go over well in court.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
  • News of a glow-in-the-dark Nike Air Foamposite Pro first materialized in November, with early reports of a Summit White/Black colorway enhanced with the glowing treatment.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 30 June 2026
Definition of dark

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Cite this Entry

“Shade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shade. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on shade

Nglish: Translation of shade for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shade

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