pallid
gb/pˈælɪd/ us/pˈælɪd/
C1
English
~ 9100
sápadt, halovány, erőtlen
C1
LITERARY
1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is pallid; pallid [face/light/sky]
She looked pallid after spending three days in bed with the flu.
Miután három napot ágyban töltött influenzával, sápadtnak látszott.
Under the hospital’s pallid lights, his skin seemed almost translucent.
A kórház halovány fényei alatt a bőre szinte áttetszőnek tűnt.
The child’s normally rosy cheeks were now pallid and clammy.
Pale clouds drifted across a pallid winter sky.
A pallid moon hung low over the empty fields.
Learner examples
He was sick, and his face was pallid.
Beteg volt, és sápadt volt az arca.
The girl’s cheeks were pallid and cold.
A lány orcái sápadtak és hidegek voltak.
We walked home in the pallid light of early morning.
The man looked tired and pallid after the long trip.
A pallid moon shone through the clouds.
Common mistake:
Learners often use only 'pale' and do not realize that 'pallid' usually sounds more literary and can suggest illness or weakness. Also, some learners incorrectly use 'pallid' for emotions (e.g., *'pallid happy')—it normally describes physical color or light, not feelings.
Meaning
very pale in color or light
Collocations
pallid face
|pallid cheeks
|pallid skin
|pallid light
|pallid moonlight
|pallid sky
Synonyms
pale (More common and neutral; does not always suggest illness or weakness.)
|
wan (Suggests an unhealthy, tired, or weak paleness; slightly more literary than 'pale'.)
|
pasty (Informal and slightly negative, often implying an unattractive, unhealthy paleness.)
Antonyms
ruddy (Describes a healthy reddish color in the face, the opposite of looking pallid.)
|
rosy (Suggests a pink, healthy color in the face instead of being pale and washed out.)
Themes
health
|appearance
|nature
|body
Definition
Very pale, often in a person’s face or in weak light.
Very pale in color, especially in a person’s face in a way that may suggest illness or tiredness, or in light that is weak and faint.
C2
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
pallid [performance/prose/excuse/attempt]
Critics dismissed the novel as a pallid imitation of her earlier work.
A kritikusok a regényt a korábbi munkáinak halovány utánzatának minősítették.
Despite the powerful script, the actors gave a strangely pallid performance.
Az erős forgatókönyv ellenére a színészek meglepően erőtlen alakítást nyújtottak.
The speech was technically correct but emotionally pallid, and the audience quickly lost interest.
His apology felt pallid and unconvincing after so many broken promises.
The museum’s new exhibit is visually striking, but the accompanying text is rather pallid.
Learner examples
The movie was pretty, but the story was pallid.
A film látványos volt, de a történet erőtlen volt.
Many fans thought the band’s new album was pallid and safe.
Sok rajongó úgy gondolta, hogy a zenekar új albuma erőtlen és túl biztonságos lett.
Her answer was polite but pallid, and it did not move anyone.
The team made a pallid attempt to win the game.
He wrote a long but pallid review of the book.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'pallid' can only describe physical color. In formal writing, it is often used figuratively for weak performances, writing, or efforts (e.g., 'pallid performance', 'pallid excuse'). Another mistake is using it in casual conversation where 'boring' or 'weak' would sound more natural.
Meaning
weak, dull, and unexciting
Collocations
pallid performance
|pallid prose
|pallid imitation
|pallid attempt
|pallid excuse
Synonyms
weak (Very general; does not carry the specific sense of lacking vividness or interest that 'pallid' often has in criticism.)
|
lackluster (Close in meaning; commonly used for performances or efforts that are dull or not impressive.)
|
lifeless (Emphasizes complete absence of energy or spirit, stronger than 'pallid'.)
Antonyms
vivid (Describes writing, images, or impressions that are strong and full of life, the opposite of 'pallid' in this figurative sense.)
|
compelling (Suggests that something strongly holds your interest, unlike a pallid, unimpressive effort.)
Themes
communication
|art
|evaluation
|core_vocabulary
|emotions
Definition
Weak and not interesting or strong; without energy or color in an abstract sense.
Lacking force, energy, or freshness and therefore weak, dull, or uninteresting.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pallid
IPA
GB/pˈælɪd/
US/pˈælɪd/
Syllables & stress
pal - lid (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pal)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: pallid
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.