purpler
ˈpər-p(ə-)lər 
; purplest
ˈpər-p(ə-)ləst
; purplest
ˈpər-p(ə-)ləst
1
: having a color between red and blue : of the color purple
a purple flower
purple fabric
… can only have left his antagonists purple with frustration.—
Joseph Epstein
Joseph Epstein2
a
: ornately and showily phrased or expressed
… the writing often descends into the purple prose of a besotted fan.—Stephen Holden
Stephen Holden… Rice is a first-rate writer. There are no purple patches in this narrative, and no attempts to sermonize.—Lawrence S. Cunningham
Lawrence S. Cunningham
b
: marked by profanity
His language in public is so purple they had to stop broadcasting the meetings of the city council.—Newsweek
Newsweek3
US politics
: having roughly equal levels of support for Democratic and Republican candidates or policies
… a blue candidate trying to swipe a red seat in a purple state.—Don Rollins
Don Rollins… as the race pulled tighter than Paris Hilton's jeans, Kerry volunteers flooded the purple states to energize their voters—tens of thousands of them newly registered.—Michelle Cottle
compare blue sense 9, red sense 5
Michelle Cottle1
a(1)
: cloth dyed purple
(2)
: a garment of such color
especially
: a purple robe worn as an emblem of rank or authority
b(1)
(2)
: any of various colors that fall about midway between red and blue in hue
c(1)
: a mollusk (as of the genus Purpura) yielding a purple dye and especially the Tyrian purple of ancient times
(2)
: a pigment or dye that colors purple
2
a
: imperial or regal rank or power
b
: high rank or station
Synonyms of purple
Examples of purple in a Sentence
Adjective
The book contains a few purple passages.
Her writing was full of purple prose.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 28 Dec. 2025
Their evergreen foliage adds texture to the winter garden, while the green, white, red, purple, pink, or yellow blooms add color.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2025
Sara Rowe Mount, Parents, 26 Dec. 2025
The painting is seventy-five-per-cent purple—or, excuse me, mauve.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Literary Hub, 15 Dec. 2025
Warning signs include yellowing within a week of infestation, purpling or reddening of leaves, stunting despite adequate moisture, weakening root systems and patchy areas of thinning or dead grass.
—Christina Shaw, FOXNews.com, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purple
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.
Adjective
The kit comes in a purple cosmetic bag and includes travel-size versions of the Clean Magic Face Wash, Dreamy Dew Facial Moisturizer, Mind Glowing Peel Off Mask, Get Glossed Lip Gloss in Mellow Mills and Up a Notch Volumizing Mascara in Black.
—Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 28 Dec. 2025
Their evergreen foliage adds texture to the winter garden, while the green, white, red, purple, pink, or yellow blooms add color.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2025
Noun
Monster Hands’ illustrations feature the dark purples and blues of night lit by the yellow of flashlight beams.
—Sara Rowe Mount, Parents, 26 Dec. 2025
The painting is seventy-five-per-cent purple—or, excuse me, mauve.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Verb
Within hours, my husband had driven us across Indiana and into Illinois where dusk purpled the horizon, and then into Missouri as the night turned truly black.
—Literary Hub, 15 Dec. 2025
Warning signs include yellowing within a week of infestation, purpling or reddening of leaves, stunting despite adequate moisture, weakening root systems and patchy areas of thinning or dead grass.
—Christina Shaw, FOXNews.com, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purple
Cite this Entry
“Purple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purple. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
purple
1 of 3 adjective
pur·ple
ˈpər-pəl
purpler
-p(ə-)lər
; purplest
-p(ə-)ləst
; purplest
-p(ə-)ləst
: of the color purple
purple
2 of 3 noun
: a color midway between red and blue
Medical Definition
purple
1 of 2 adjective
pur·ple
ˈpər-pəl
purpler
-p(ə-)lər
; purplest
-p(ə-)ləst
; purplest
-p(ə-)ləst
: of the color purple
purple
2 of 2 noun1
: any of various colors that fall about midway between red and blue in hue
2
: a pigment or dye that colors purple see visual purple
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share