pale in/by comparison to/with

idiom

: to seem less important, good, serious, etc., when compared with (something else)
The afternoon meal paled in comparison to/with the feast they had later.
Last year's losses pale by comparison with this year's.

Examples of pale in/by comparison to/with in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But Hall told the Tribune the mayor’s controversies pale in comparison with the spending he’s done in Black neighborhoods like his. — Regina Garcia Cano, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025 But the conspiracy theories, rumors, and criticism tied to Lively at the Another Simple Favor premiere pale in comparison to the theories this group of obsessives have been circulating widely online since Lively’s legal battle against Baldoni began. — Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 14 Mar. 2025 These dismissal numbers pale in comparison to the total amount of positions the Biden administration hired over four years. — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025 But the Vatican’s resources pale in comparison with what a modern state or large company can muster. — Daniel Speed Thompson, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pale in/by comparison to/with

Browse Nearby Words

pale imitation
pale in/by comparison to/with
paleing
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pale in/by comparison to/with.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pale%20in%2Fby%20comparison%20to%2Fwith. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
burrowing owl athene cunicularia tilts its head outside its burrow on marco island florida
Guess the Curious Origins of These Everyday Words Oh, that’s where that comes from…
See All