pallid

adjective

pal·​lid ˈpa-ləd 

1

: deficient in color : wan

a pallid countenance

2

: lacking sparkle or liveliness : dull

a pallid entertainment

The movie is a pallid version of the classic novel.

pallidly adverb

pallidness noun

Synonyms

• ashen
• ashy
• blanched
• cadaverous
• doughy
• livid
• lurid
• mealy
• pale
• paled
• pasty
• peaked
• wan

Examples of pallid in a Sentence

The movie is a pallid version of the classic novel.

a pallid man who looked as though he'd never seen the sun

Recent Examples on the Web

Yet everything about this pallid stunt comedy, from the increasingly gross setpieces (at one point, Barrymore’s Nancy pukes directly into her husband’s mouth) to the wasting of normally great character actors in minor roles (Harvey Fierstein! —Sean Malin, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2024

That pallid face hadn’t smelled of evil in the least. —Yukio Mishima, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024

This dish came in a silicone vessel even more innovative than the fake eyeball: a replica of a man’s bald, pallid head, severed just below the eyebrows. —Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2024

While Biden is no longer the nominee, a major part of Harris’ task early in the race has been rebuilding her predecessor’s pallid polling, especially in the Midwest and the Sun Belt, which are considered key for victory in November. —Nico Lang, Them, 6 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin pallidus "pale, colorless" — more at pale entry 1

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pallid

adjective

pal·​lid ˈpal-əd 

: lacking healthy color : pale

pallidly adverb