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Synonyms

colorless

American  
[kuhl-er-lis] / ˈkʌl ər lɪs /

adjective

  1. without color.

    Pure water is colorless.

  2. pallid; dull in color.

    a colorless complexion.

  3. lacking vividness or distinctive character; dull; insipid.

    a colorless description of the parade.

    Synonyms:
    lackluster, drab, dreary, unexciting
  4. unbiased; neutral.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of colorless

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at color, -less

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The noble gas—completely colorless, odorless, and tasteless—is used in rocket propulsion.

From Barron's May 28, 2026

Under the direction of Sarah Frankcom, the actors inflect the dialogue with welcome variety, although the overall tone remains firmly dispassionate and emotionally colorless, as befits the dialogue’s cool tone.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 22, 2026

PCE is a man-made, colorless liquid widely used to remove grease in industrial and household settings, including dry cleaning.

From Science Daily Nov. 12, 2025

By contrast, many authoritarian leaders are colorless, possessing little or no charisma: Consider Francisco Franco, Antonio Salazar, the Greek colonels, Leopoldo Galtieri, Augusto Pinochet, Park Chung-hee.

From Salon Jun. 22, 2025

Their eyes were the colorless grey of extreme age, and they squinted at the organs on the slab.

From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman

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