Synonyms of pale

pale 1 of 3

adjective

ˈpāl 

1

as in faded

lacking intensity of color

we chose a very pale pink for the walls of the room

Synonyms & Similar Words

• faded
• light
• dulled
• dull
• faint
• pastel
• grey
• white
• washy
• neutral
• washed-out
• gray
• dim
• lusterless
• bleached
• lackluster
• matte
• muddy
• dirty
• colorless
• mat
• matt
• washed
• blanched
• achromatic
• indistinct
• flat
• unpainted
• unstained
• uncolored
• whitened
• undyed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dark
• rich
• deep
• bright
• vivid
• gay
• brilliant
• colored
• vibrant
• stained
• painted
• tinted
• tinged
• chromatic
• colorful
• dyed
• rainbow
• variegated
• prismatic
• loud
• multicolored
• gaudy
• garish
• showy
• flashy
• varicolored
• polychromatic
• polychrome
• motley
• splashy

2

as in pallid

lacking a healthy skin color

after a week with the flu, she was deathly pale and noticeably thinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pallid
• paled
• ashen
• pasty
• ashy
• blanched
• wan
• doughy
• cadaverous
• sick
• livid
• mealy
• white
• lurid
• sallow
• peaked
• sickly
• waxen
• waxy
• anemic
• whitened
• untanned
• bloodless
• sallowish
• white-faced
• whey-faced

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• red
• ruddy
• rosy
• sanguine
• florid
• glowing
• blooming
• flush
• pink
• rubicund
• blushing
• full-blooded
• flushed

3

as in vague

not seen or understood clearly

a pale outline off in the distance proved to be someone out for a walk

Synonyms & Similar Words

• vague
• faint
• hazy
• dark
• fuzzy
• indistinct
• blurry
• opaque
• shadowy
• dim
• misty
• murky
• obscure
• nebulous
• indistinguishable
• undefined
• foggy
• unclear
• indefinite
• bleary
• dusky
• blear
• undetermined
• gauzy
• gloomy
• invisible
• intangible
• mysterious
• inexplicable
• incomprehensible
• inappreciable
• impalpable
• puzzling
• indiscernible
• indecipherable
• hieroglyphic
• hieroglyphical
• obfuscatory

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clear
• definite
• obvious
• plain
• bright
• evident
• distinct
• pellucid
• certain
• strong
• sure
• firm

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bleach
• fade
• dull
• brighten
• snow
• whiten
• blanch
• dim
• decolorize
• blench
• wash out
• matte
• lighten
• matt
• silver
• frost
• mat
• whitewash
• etiolate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deepen
• darken
• marble
• shade
• pattern
• streak
• blacken
• striate
• blotch
• speck
• pigment
• tarnish
• discolor
• spot
• stripe
• speckle
• polychrome
• embrown
• paint
• tint
• color
• tinge
• daub
• stain
• dye
• dapple
• shine
• fleck
• mottle
• splotch
• polish
• tincture
• variegate
• burnish
• checker

pale

3 of 3

noun

as in paling

Synonyms & Similar Words

• paling
• wall
• barrier
• fence
• hedge
• let
• interference
• embarrassment
• barricade
• hindrance
• obstruction
• deterrent
• impediment
• obstacle
• encumbrance
• stumbling block
• hurdle
• inhibition
• bar
• handicap
• trammel
• clog
• chain
• roadblock
• stop
• block
• crimp
• curb
• fetter
• hobble
• shackle(s)
• restraint
• snag
• drag
• rampart
• cushion
• dam
• manacle
• constraint
• fender
• bumper
• bulwark
• buffer
• pad

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• door
• entrance
• doorway
• entry
• gate
• portal
• entranceway
• entryway
• pass
• gap
• break

Examples of pale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Trump’s interactions with his late brother Freddy (Charlie Carrick) are, to put it mildly, unflattering (though pale in comparison with how Freddy is treated by his father). —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 9 Oct. 2024

Fortunato Gatto comes across a gnarled old birch tree adorned with pale ‘old man’s beard’ lichens. —Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024

Verb

Newer works can feel iterative, paling in vitality, recombinant critiques. —Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2024

But my experience pales in comparison to that of Rich Howell of Trail Cam Pro. —Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 2 Oct. 2024

Noun

Supporters also expressed a desire to move on from the yearslong discussion over the flag, which some contended pales in comparison to other issues facing the city and its residents. —Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 25 Sep. 2024

Power output is a heady 987 hp (736 kW), which sounds like a lot but pales compared to Lotus' first electric supercar, the 1,971 hp (1,470 kW) Evija. —Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 17 Sep. 2024