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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

  • colorlessly adverb
  • colorlessness noun

Etymology

Origin of colorless

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; 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.

Looming over the colorless town is its hulking circa-1385 monastery, extended in convent courtyards and stately chapels with lofty naves, offering dazzling displays of stained glass.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

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

Janet Simmelink—69, retired, and like many people in her milieu, visibly agitated—recently lingered on the outskirts of Denver’s Civic Center Park on a colorless evening, politely tolerating my questions.

From Slate • Apr. 9, 2025

“He’s quite adept at presenting himself as a mild and meek human being… You’d say, ‘Nice guy, totally colorless.’

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2024

Here and there a middle-aged or older woman wore a heavy, colorless kimono, and a couple of somewhat younger women wore colored ones.

From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata