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

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
The buildings are awash in pastels; the locals are friendly, quick to smile. Essence, 13 May 2026 Bright reds and yellows offer high visibility from the street, while soft pastels like lavender, pink and white create a calm, cozy-home feel. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 May 2026
Adjective
Womenswear pieces feature technical nylon, pastel velvet corduroy and summer tweed. Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 20 May 2026 The chain brought back the pastel mini canvas tote bags in March and launched a new large canvas bag. Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 20 May 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pastel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pastel. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

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

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