How to Use complementary color in a Sentence

complementary color

noun
  • Go for a bold pattern—like plaid or polka dots—and reach for boots in a complementary color.
    — Kelsey Stiegman, Glamour, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Here a pair of complementary color schemes—red and green and blue and orange—bring vibrancy to the space.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Choose a bright container in a complementary color, and add a pop of cheer to a covered entryway.
    — Steve Bender, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2026
  • McDaniel loves pairing yellow cabinets with soft shades of blue and green to create a complementary color palette that's pleasing to the eye.
    — Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
  • This fall, look for dresses in earthy or neutral tones—think browns, mossy greens, beige, black, or gray—that will suit an autumnal palette, with flat shoes with metallic, velvet, or patent leather detail in a complementary color.
    — René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 27 Sep. 2025
  • An orange Hammitt Kyle Sml bag in Tailored Tangerine added a pop of complementary color to the look.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
  • Add complementary color and protection from pests with a colorful planting of lantana (Lantana camara).
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2026
  • This one has paisley, floral, and damask patterns joining together in a complementary color palette to create an eclectic but cohesive look, while the reverse side is pink with a scrollwork pattern.
    — Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
  • This one has paisley, floral, and damask patterns joining together in a complementary color palette to create an eclectic but cohesive look, while the reverse side is pink with a scrollwork pattern.
    — Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Blue and Yellow Designer Sarlene Molnar is currently obsessing over one complementary color duo, and that's blue and yellow.
    — Tessa Cooper, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025
  • Inspired by a print on wood by Australian photographer Sarah Bahbah in his dining room, Piña decorated the living and dining room in a complementary color palette.
    — Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2025
  • Choose Complementary Colors A complementary color scheme features colors located opposite from your main undertone on the color wheel.
    — Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 31 May 2026
  • From high-tops inspired by boxing footwear to jarring-yet-complementary color combinations, the Bulgarian designer’s link-ups with the Japanese sportswear company have produced some of the more captivating collaborations in athletic footwear.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 19 Feb. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'complementary color.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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