1
as in colors
a property that becomes apparent when light falls on an object and by which things that are identical in form can be distinguished
a lovely shade of blue
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in splashes
a very small amount
just a shade taller than his dance partner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in spirits
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people
spirits and shades haunting the night
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shades
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026
Nodding to the ‘90s, these oval shades are the perfect pair to throw in your purse and pull out when Paris has one of those beautifully sunny days that practically beg for an entire afternoon sunbathing on a café terrace with a glass of rosé in hand.
—Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2026
Even though there are six shades to choose from, including the brand’s legendary Pillow Talk, each color may vary from person to person, depending on their body chemistry.
—Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 4 Apr. 2026
Keep everything cool-toned to make two very different shades work together in harmony.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2026
Soft yellow has quietly become one of spring’s most popular shades, capturing everything people want from a seasonal polish—brightness, optimism, and a little bit of fashion-girl edge.
—Colleen Sullivan, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026
The video shows two Dallas police officers holding the man, wearing a hat and shades, with half of his face covered in a mask, against a wall on the side of the street.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
Light shades of green such as pastel green or lime green look fresh and bright and therefore go particularly well with light, summery colors like white, beige, or delicate pastel shades.
—Jana Ackermann, Glamour, 28 Mar. 2026
March 9, CBS News, 9 Mar. 2026
Basil shades the ground around tomatoes, conserving soil moisture.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 27 Feb. 2026
New Zealand actor Shand shades him with welcome nuance.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
The skin tone shades work as a complexion product or a powder, while the universal shades can be used to prep the skin.
—Essence Wiley, InStyle, 7 Feb. 2026
Tall grass also shades weed seedlings, preventing them from expanding and overtaking desirable grass plants, better than short turf.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2025
The jersey has Sacramento emblazoned across the chest with a new palette of deep ink purple and bright violet accents, shades the team has never used before.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2025
But Slate also shades Nikki with such specific nuances, anxieties, and sadnesses that, even with a performance as powerful as Williams’s at its center, the show develops into a two-hander, something of a love story between the pair.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
Its softer and more feminine guise includes floral upholstery in lemony shades.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026
Nodding to the ‘90s, these oval shades are the perfect pair to throw in your purse and pull out when Paris has one of those beautifully sunny days that practically beg for an entire afternoon sunbathing on a café terrace with a glass of rosé in hand.
—Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2026
Even though there are six shades to choose from, including the brand’s legendary Pillow Talk, each color may vary from person to person, depending on their body chemistry.
—Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 4 Apr. 2026
Keep everything cool-toned to make two very different shades work together in harmony.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2026
Soft yellow has quietly become one of spring’s most popular shades, capturing everything people want from a seasonal polish—brightness, optimism, and a little bit of fashion-girl edge.
—Colleen Sullivan, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026
The video shows two Dallas police officers holding the man, wearing a hat and shades, with half of his face covered in a mask, against a wall on the side of the street.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
Light shades of green such as pastel green or lime green look fresh and bright and therefore go particularly well with light, summery colors like white, beige, or delicate pastel shades.
—Jana Ackermann, Glamour, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
So that's the thing that keeps us cooler, shades us.
—March 9, CBS News, 9 Mar. 2026
Basil shades the ground around tomatoes, conserving soil moisture.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 27 Feb. 2026
New Zealand actor Shand shades him with welcome nuance.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
The skin tone shades work as a complexion product or a powder, while the universal shades can be used to prep the skin.
—Essence Wiley, InStyle, 7 Feb. 2026
Tall grass also shades weed seedlings, preventing them from expanding and overtaking desirable grass plants, better than short turf.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2025
The jersey has Sacramento emblazoned across the chest with a new palette of deep ink purple and bright violet accents, shades the team has never used before.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2025
But Slate also shades Nikki with such specific nuances, anxieties, and sadnesses that, even with a performance as powerful as Williams’s at its center, the show develops into a two-hander, something of a love story between the pair.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shades
Noun
-
Organizers passed out white candles and orange and red roses to the crowd on the lawn, filled with the colors orange and green, Metayer Bowen’s favorite colors and the colors of her alma mater Florida A&M University.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The colors include Diresul Fiber-Teak (brown), Diresul Fiber-Slate (blue-gray) and Diresul Fiber-Graphite (dark gray)—echoing the growing demand for wearable neutrals.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The dramatist’s mode is broader and brasher, calculated for the sweep of the stage rather than the close-up, with splashes of color and humor that can verge on camp.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Each one is about the size of a tennis ball, yellow in color with splashes of red, and covered in wart-like bumps, thus the name.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Ancient Mayans later believed cenotes were sacred portals to the underworld, where gods and spirits dwelled.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Ancient Mayans believed cenotes were sacred portals to the underworld, where gods and spirits dwelled.—
Ryan Brennan
April 4,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The corridor before him seems never-ending, extending miles, shadows short and dark, shadows light and long.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Then escape the skyscraper shadows into Hong Kong's New Territories.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In less than 10 minutes, a wooden bridge deposits us on the doorstep of a cinematic landscape that unfurls into a seemingly endless patchwork of rolling hills and glens in hues of umber, cinnamon, and ochre, flanked by mountains standing sentinel on either side.—
Jen Murphy,
Robb Report,
4 Apr. 2026
-
This smoky color adds dimension with cool hues.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Keep an eye out for tiny brown or orange specks, especially around door edges, undercarriage, and seams.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Keep an eye out for tiny brown or orange specks, especially around door edges, undercarriage and seams.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Acosta’s bright shapes could be seen as apparitions of a sort.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
-
On top of these apparitions, a human foe, whose motives for committing a crime seem rather nebulous, also exists.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Proponents say the bill addresses a shortage of foster homes in Missouri and protects religious freedom.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
-
If someone pushes you to rush, keep your tone measured and propose a reasonable deadline that protects quality and keeps expectations aligned.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shades. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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