desaturated

American  

[dee-sach-uh-rey-tid] / diˈsætʃ əˌreɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. (of a color) formed by mixing a color of the spectrum with white.

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Etymology

Origin of desaturated

First recorded in 1910–15; de- + saturate + -ed ²

Example Sentences

The rest of the retro aesthetic is achieved with a desaturated color palette that is not well served by the digital photography and dim lighting.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 8, 2024

“The desaturated approach also speaks to millennial color sensibilities, like Pepto-Bismol pink, pale yellows and other desaturated colors that have been the fad in recent years.”

From Seattle Times • Jun. 1, 2023

The dour, desaturated palette gives “Women Talking” an appropriate air of timelessness but also saps vitality and visual interest from a frame that is taken up with — what else? — women talking.

From Washington Post • Jan. 4, 2023

These ads' audiovisual aesthetics seek to persuade viewers through desaturated colors, especially wan blues and grays.

From Salon • Sep. 25, 2022

They settled on a slightly desaturated red that leans toward magenta.

From New York Times • Jul. 13, 2022