pallid

[pal-id]

adjective

1. pale; faint or deficient in color; wan.

   a pallid countenance.

2. lacking in vitality or interest.

   a pallid musical performance.

pallid

/ ˈpælɪd /

adjective

1. lacking colour or brightness; wan

   a pallid complexion

2. lacking vigour; vapid

   a pallid performance

Other Word Forms

• pallidness noun
• pallidly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of pallid¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin pallidus “sallow,” equivalent to pall(ēre) “to be pale” + -idus adjective suffix ( -id ⁴ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of pallid¹

C17: from Latin pallidus, from pallēre to be _pale ¹

Synonym Study

See pale ¹.

Example Sentences

The pictures show a pallid, hollow-eyed man, resembling Poe, who’s sitting by the fire in his dressing gown when there comes a gentle “rapping, rapping” at the door.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Garfield is all galling charisma and Edebiri is in some pallid register, like a Victorian ghost that you’re not sure whether to fear.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Rusted metal frames and a blanket of pallid ash still sit within a few hundred feet from the ocean.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Tuchel's England have yet to fully reveal themselves with good performances; expected victories but pallid displays have even hinted at regression as opposed to progression.

Read more on BBC

He looked frail and pallid — a shadow of the man Tawana knew.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anemic 
• feeble 
• ghastly 
• lackluster 
• sickly 
• uninspired