Synonyms of color

color 1 of 2

noun

ˈkə-lər 

1

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 shirt that is available in every color of the rainbow

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hue
• shade
• tone
• coloration
• tint
• tinge
• coloring
• tincture
• brightness
• cast
• contrast
• saturation
• chroma
• undertone
• pigmentation
• chromaticity
• overtone
• lightness
• value
• primary color
• secondary color
• tertiary color
• colorway

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• achromatism

2

as in pigment

a substance used to color other materials

added some red color to the base paint

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pigment
• dye
• coloring
• stain
• colorant
• hue
• dyestuff
• tint
• shade
• tinge
• toner
• cast

3

as in coloring

the hue or appearance of the skin and especially of the face

her color hasn't been good since she got sick

Synonyms & Similar Words

• coloring
• tone
• complexion
• shade
• tint
• features
• face
• looks
• countenance
• lineaments
• visage

4

as in flag

colors plural a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling

flew their country's colors atop the highest mast on the ship

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flag
• banner
• pennant
• standard
• streamer
• ensign
• insignia
• pendant
• pennon
• guidon
• banderole
• tricolor
• jack
• white flag
• black flag
• crest
• bunting
• coat of arms
• Jolly Roger
• badge
• semaphore
• union jack
• gonfalon
• waft
• burgee
• signaler

5

as in blush

a rosy appearance (of the cheeks)

the stay in the country brought color to her cheeks

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blush
• brightness
• glow
• bloom
• flush
• brilliance
• redness
• pinkness
• reddishness
• ruddiness
• rosiness
• sanguineness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• whiteness
• pallor
• paleness
• pastiness
• wanness
• greenness
• sallowness
• pallidness
• greenishness

6

as in service

colors plural the combined army, air force, and navy of a nation

she hopes to carry on the family tradition and serve with the colors

Synonyms & Similar Words

• service
• military
• troops
• soldiers
• armed forces
• militia
• rank and file
• force
• defense
• armor
• reserves
• soldiery
• servicemen
• GIs
• servicewomen
• men-at-arms
• gendarmerie

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• civilians
• noncombatants

7

as in personality

colors plural the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others

we saw his true colors during the emergency

Synonyms & Similar Words

• personality
• self
• nature
• character
• tone
• complexion
• clay
• trait
• constitution
• spirit
• characteristic
• genius
• flavor
• feature
• attribute
• uniqueness
• property
• soul
• individuality
• composition
• mark
• grain
• temperament
• sort
• interior
• stamp
• makeup
• temper
• way
• distinctness
• substance
• distinctiveness
• disposition
• essence
• metal
• singularity
• hallmark
• stuff
• savor
• point
• essentiality
• earmark
• habit
• interiority

color

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to paint

to give color or a different color to

per the couple's request, the baker used natural ingredients like beet juice and turmeric to color the icing for the wedding cake

Synonyms & Similar Words

• paint
• tint
• stain
• dye
• pigment
• brighten
• tinge
• tincture
• stripe
• darken
• bepaint
• lighten
• tone (down)
• pattern
• marble
• fleck
• streak
• speckle
• mottle
• polychrome
• variegate
• speck
• striate
• dapple
• embrown
• checker
• daub

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bleach
• decolorize
• whiten
• blanch

2

as in to exaggerate

to add to the interest of by including made-up details

he gave a highly colored version of a rather mundane experience

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exaggerate
• pad
• enhance
• embellish
• embroider
• expand
• elaborate (on)
• stretch
• hyperbolize
• magnify
• emphasize
• flesh (out)
• satirize
• enlarge (on or upon)
• amplify
• stress
• dress up
• play up
• overdo
• caricature
• overdraw
• hedge
• fudge
• overemphasize
• gussy up
• overstate
• overplay

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• minimize
• understate
• belittle
• play down

3

as in to distort

to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of

his news reporting is colored by his prejudices

Synonyms & Similar Words

• distort
• misrepresent
• cook
• slant
• twist
• obscure
• complicate
• warp
• falsify
• pervert
• fudge
• misstate
• misinterpret
• garble
• misrelate
• camouflage
• mask
• censor
• confuse
• mistake
• bend
• veil
• disguise
• gloss (over)
• whitewash
• dissemble
• misdescribe
• mix (up)
• lie
• mistranslate
• misspeak
• belie
• bowdlerize
• mystify
• equivocate
• palter
• fib
• prevaricate
• confound

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• explain
• interpret
• illustrate
• clarify
• clear (up)
• spell out
• illuminate
• decipher

4

as in to blush

to develop a rosy facial color (as from excitement or embarrassment)

she colored after hearing the nasty remarks about her weight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blush
• glow
• flush
• crimson
• turn color
• bloom
• redden
• rouge
• incarnadine
• ruddle
• humiliate
• faze
• disconcert
• mortify
• abash
• discomfit
• embarrass
• chagrin

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of color

Noun

Verbena is a butterfly favorite, blooming in a range of colors including cool blues and purples, sunny yellow, and rose to red hues. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026

The color held special meaning in Victorian symbolism on its own, representing fidelity, purity, and love. —Rosie Jarman, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2026

Verb

Guggenheim is currently at work on The Whisper War, a five-issue sci-fi mystery thriller from Amazon's Comixology Originals, illustrated by Sedat Oezgen (Savage Sword of Conan), colored by Carlos Cabrera and lettered by Dave Sharpe. —Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026

From overdyed ecru to color herringbone constructions, Nishat Denim experimented with color for F/W 27-28. —Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 22 Apr. 2026

Phrases Containing color

• turn color