pastel

1 of 2

noun

pas·​tel pa-ˈstel How to pronounce pastel (audio)
Synonyms of pastelnext
1
: a paste made of powdered pigment ranging from pale to deep colors and used for making crayons
also : a crayon made of such paste
2
a
: a drawing in pastel
b
: the process or art of drawing with pastels
3
: a light literary sketch
4
: any of various pale or light colors

pastel

2 of 2

adjective

1
a
: of or relating to a pastel
b
: made with pastels
2
: pale and light in color
3
: lacking in body or vigor

Synonyms of pastel

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Adjective

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Examples of pastel in a Sentence

Noun She has a collection of pastels. She prefers a pastel like light yellow. The room is painted in a pastel shade of blue. Adjective a pastel blue to go with the pale pink walls
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
Visually, the era adopted a stark black, white, and grey palette, a departure from her usual pastels, emphasizing a cinematic aesthetic. — Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 Zoe Saldaña looks chic in her summer pastels while in New York. — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
Adjective
The rooms Those heart-melting pastel colors that glow as Venice and her lagoon move from daytime into evening have been collated here in room decor, which brings the outdoors inside and folds it into midcentury-modern style and comfort. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026 In a series of photos posted on Instagram, the 28-year-old actress posed for a mirror selfie in a white bra with little pink floral details on it, and a pastel green button up over it, left unbuttoned. — Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pastel

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, from Italian pastello, from Late Latin pastellus woad, from diminutive of pasta

First Known Use

Noun

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of pastel was in 1612

Rhymes for pastel

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Browse Nearby Words

paste grain
pastel
pastel blue
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pastel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pastel. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pastel

1 of 2 noun
pas·​tel pas-ˈtel How to pronounce pastel (audio)
1
a
: a paste made of ground color and used for making crayons
b
: a crayon of such paste
2
: a drawing in pastel
3
: any of various pale or light colors

pastel

2 of 2 adjective
1
: of, relating to, or made with pastels
2
: pale and light in color

More from Merriam-Webster on pastel

Nglish: Translation of pastel for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pastel

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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