pixelated
adjective
pix·e·lat·ed
ˈpik-sə-ˌlā-təd 
of an image
: displayed in such a manner that individual pixels are discernible
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Is it pixelated or pixilated?
Pixelated is used to describe digital images in which individual pixels are discernable, as when you look closely at a large photo and can see the tiny dots that make up the image. Pixilated (coined from pixie, a pixie being a cheerful, mischievous sprite) is usually used to describe things considered whimsical, or people who seem dazed or lost in thought. While pixelated is a late 20th century coinage, pixilated has been in use since the mid-19th century.
Examples of pixelated in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There’s definitely a lot of meat on these pixelated bones.
—
David Jagneaux, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
At first glance, the pixelated 3-D world of Proteus looks a lot like Minecraft.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 9 July 2025
The view through the camera is disorienting, a pixelated grayscale landscape.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 7 July 2025
One example is restoring or upscaling images: taking pixelated, noisy or blurry images and making a crisper and higher-resolution version.
—Bruce Schneier, The Conversation, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pixelated
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David Jagneaux, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
At first glance, the pixelated 3-D world of Proteus looks a lot like Minecraft.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 9 July 2025
The view through the camera is disorienting, a pixelated grayscale landscape.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 7 July 2025
One example is restoring or upscaling images: taking pixelated, noisy or blurry images and making a crisper and higher-resolution version.
—Bruce Schneier, The Conversation, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pixelated
Cite this Entry
“Pixelated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pixelated. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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