as in pale
lacking a healthy skin color
the shock of the news left him paled and shaking
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in faded
to make white or whiter by removing color
the sun eventually paled my bright blue shirt
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of paled
Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
Vitello got an appetizer of the rivalry during spring training when the Giants played the Dodgers twice during Cactus League play, but those exhibitions in Scottsdale and Glendale paled in comparison to the real deal in San Francisco.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
Her sophomore season was good by most standards, but paled in comparison to her freshman season.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026
For many Saudis, this war has paled in comparison to the one which followed Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
—Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Ultimately, all of these explanations paled in comparison to the big one.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
The stakes paled in comparison to the 2024 NBA Finals, but Friday’s primetime showdown between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics carried a heightened sense of emotion for both teams.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
Torok’s photos were part of the administration’s effort to shape public opinion – though many commentators pointed out that those efforts have paled in comparison to past American war efforts.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
That paled in comparison with Canada and Britain, which respectively signed eight and 12 documents with China last month during visits by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Britain’s Starmer.
—Reuters, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
Wolff said the president paled at the idea of a presidential library (classic Reading Derangement Syndrome).
—Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
Vitello got an appetizer of the rivalry during spring training when the Giants played the Dodgers twice during Cactus League play, but those exhibitions in Scottsdale and Glendale paled in comparison to the real deal in San Francisco.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
Her sophomore season was good by most standards, but paled in comparison to her freshman season.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026
For many Saudis, this war has paled in comparison to the one which followed Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
—Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Ultimately, all of these explanations paled in comparison to the big one.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
The stakes paled in comparison to the 2024 NBA Finals, but Friday’s primetime showdown between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics carried a heightened sense of emotion for both teams.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
Torok’s photos were part of the administration’s effort to shape public opinion – though many commentators pointed out that those efforts have paled in comparison to past American war efforts.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
That paled in comparison with Canada and Britain, which respectively signed eight and 12 documents with China last month during visits by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Britain’s Starmer.
—Reuters, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paled
Adjective
-
While visiting Malta with Prince Philip in 1951, the late monarch wore a pale purple beaded gown and fur stole.—
Andrea Wurzburger,
PEOPLE,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Raspberries won't ripen after being picked, so be careful not to choose underripe ones that are pale.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
With time, with therapy, with growth, this thing has faded into the past, dissolved into other narratives.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Interest in the discussion faded later in James' career.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Out of the bloodstains shone a pair of bright blue eyes, and a heart was beating under the pallid skin that looked several sizes too big.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
However, it should be noted that down should not be bleached or washed with fabric softener.—
Katie Cloyd,
Martha Stewart,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Here, fabrics are scraped, scratched, patched, bleached, ripped and painted to signify the passage of time.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The rich buttermilk ranch dressing is brightened by fresh lemon juice and zest, which balances the tang of buttermilk and sour cream with the savory herb notes of chives and basil.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Ancho chile and cayenne give a layered blend of heat while brightened up by caraway, cumin, and coriander.—
Katlyn Moncada,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paled. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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