noun

pastel

/pæˈstɛl/ · say it: pas·TEL

a soft chalk-like coloring stick, or its muted tones

In Arts & Culture

In more detail

1. (noun) a soft stick of color used for drawing and painting

2. (noun) a drawing or painting made with pastels

3. (adjective) pale and soft in color

Examples

1. She used colorful pastels to create a beautiful landscape.
2. The artist displayed several pastels in the gallery.
3. The room was decorated in pastel colors like soft pink and pale blue.

How to use pastel

Pastel as a noun refers to the actual art medium (sticks of pigment) or artworks created with it. As an adjective, it describes colors that are pale, soft, and muted—often used for interior design, fashion, and visual aesthetics. The term carries associations with delicacy and subtlety rather than intensity.

Common phrases

pastel colors
pastel drawing
pastel shades
soft pastel
oil pastel
pastel portrait

Synonyms

crayon · chalk · soft color · pale shade · muted tone

Opposites

vibrant · bold · vivid

Word family

pastelist (noun) · pastellist (noun) · pastel-colored (adjective)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use pastel as an uncountable noun when referring to multiple individual sticks (e.g., 'I bought pastels' is correct, not 'I bought pastel').

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