neutral
Other forms: neutrals; neutrally
Commonly used to describe a person who doesn’t pick sides in disputes, neutral also pegs anything that refuses to be bold: the color beige, bland clothing, people with no preferences on where to eat for dinner.
Being neutral sounds kind of boring. But neutrality is really important in some cases: Judges, for example, must remain totally neutral when hearing a case. Manners mavens say that it's best to remain neutral when topics like politics and religion come up during a party. And boxers can look to the neutral corners in the ring to escape a punch.
Definitions of neutral
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having no personal preference“a neutral observer”
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synonyms:
impersonal
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nonsubjective, objective
undistorted by emotion or personal bias; based on observable phenomena
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nonsubjective, objective
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not supporting or favoring either side in a war, dispute, or contest
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synonyms:
-
nonaligned
not affiliated with any faction, party, or cause
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nonaligned
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possessing no distinctive quality or characteristics
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synonyms:
-
neutralised, neutralized
made neutral in some respect; deprived of distinctive characteristics
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viewless
not having or expressing opinions or views
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antonyms:
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positive
characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.
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negative
characterized by or displaying negation or denial or opposition or resistance; having no positive features
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affirmative, affirmatory
affirming or giving assent
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constructive
constructing or tending to construct or improve or promote development
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destructive
causing destruction or much damage
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optimistic
expecting the best in this best of all possible worlds
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pessimistic
expecting the worst possible outcome
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affirmative, optimistic
expecting the best
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constructive
emphasizing what is laudable or hopeful or to the good
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antagonistic, counter
indicating opposition or resistance
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perverse
marked by a disposition to oppose and contradict
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supportive
furnishing support or assistance
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unsupportive
not furnishing support or assistance
- show more antonyms...
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neutralised, neutralized
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lacking distinguishing quality or characteristics“a neutral personality that made no impression whatever”
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synonyms:
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colorless, colourless
lacking in variety and interest
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colorless, colourless
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having no hue“neutral colors like black or white”
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synonyms:
achromatic
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argent, silver, silverish, silvery
of lustrous grey; covered with or tinged with the color of silver
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ash-gray, ash-grey, ashy
of a light grey
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blackish
of something that is somewhat black
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black-gray, black-grey, blackish-gray, blackish-grey
of dark grey
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blue-white, bluish-white, cool-white
of white tinged with blue
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blue-gray, blue-grey, bluish-gray, bluish-grey
of grey tinged with blue
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blue-black, bluish black
of black tinged with blue
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brown-black, brownish-black
of black tinged with brown
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brown-gray, brown-grey, brownish-gray, brownish-grey
of grey tinged with brown
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canescent
of greyish white
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chalky
of something having the color of chalk
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charcoal, charcoal-gray, charcoal-grey
of a very dark grey
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coal-black, jet, jet-black, pitchy, sooty
of the blackest black; similar to the color of jet or coal
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cottony-white
of something as white as cotton
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dull-white
of a dull shade of white
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ebon, ebony
of a very dark black
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gray, grayish, grey, greyish
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
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gray-black, grayish-black, grey-black, greyish-black
of black tinged with grey
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gray-white, grayish-white, grey-white, greyish-white
of white tinged with grey
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greenish-gray, greenish-grey
of grey tinged with green
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green-white, greenish-white
of white flowers tinged with green
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hueless
of something totally lacking in saturation and therefore having no hue
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ink-black, inky, inky-black
of the color of black ink
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iron-gray, iron-grey
of the grey color of iron
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lily-white
of a pure white color
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milk-white
of a white the color of fresh milk
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olive-gray, olive-grey
of grey tinged with olive
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dark-gray, dark-grey, oxford-gray, oxford-grey
of a dark shade of grey
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pearl gray, pearl grey
of a grey with a pearly tinge
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pearly, pearly-white
of a white the color of pearls
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pinkish-white
of white tinged with pink
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purple-black, purplish-black
of black tinged with purple
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purple-white, purplish-white
of white tinged with purple
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red-gray, red-grey, reddish-gray, reddish-grey
of grey tinged with red
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sable
of a dark somewhat brownish black
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silver-gray, silver-grey, silvery-gray, silvery-grey
of grey resembling silver
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silver-white, silvery-white
of a white that resembles silver
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slate-black
of a black tinged with slate-grey
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slate-gray, slate-grey, slatey, slaty, slaty-gray, slaty-grey, stone-gray, stone-grey
of the color of slate or granite
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niveous, snow-white, snowy
of the white color of snow
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soot-black, sooty-black
of the black color of soot
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violet-black
of black tinged with violet
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white-flowered
(of plants) having white flowers
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off-white, whitish
of something having a color tending toward white
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yellow-gray, yellow-grey, yellowish-gray, yellowish-grey
of grey tinged with yellow
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yellow-white, yellowish-white
of a white tinged with yellow
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colorless, colourless
weak in color; not colorful
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antonyms:
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chromatic
being, having, or characterized by hue
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amber, brownish-yellow, yellow-brown
of a medium to dark brownish yellow color
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amber-green
of green tinged with amber
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amethyst
of a moderate purple color
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auburn
(of hair) colored a moderate reddish-brown
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aureate, gilded, gilt, gold, golden
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
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avocado
of the dull yellowish green of the meat of an avocado
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azure, bright blue, cerulean, sky blue, sky-blue
bright blue in color, like a clear sky
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beige
of a light greyish-brown color
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blackish-brown
of brown tinged with black
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blackish-red
of red tinged with black
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blae
of bluish-black or grey-blue
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blue, blueish, bluish
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
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blue-green, bluish green, cyan, teal
of a bluish shade of green
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blue-lilac, bluish-lilac
of lavender tinged with blue
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blue-purple, bluish-purple
of purple tinged with blue
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blue-violet, bluish-violet
of violet tinted with blue
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blushful, rosy
of blush color
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bottle-green
of a dark to moderate greyish green color
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bright-red, raspberry-red
of the red of fresh raspberries
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bronze, bronzy
of the color of bronze
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bronze-red
of red tinged with bronze
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brown, brownish, chocolate-brown, dark-brown
of a color similar to that of wood or earth
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brown-green, brownish-green
of green tinged with brown
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brown-purple, brownish-purple
of dark purple tinted with brown
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buff
of the yellowish-beige color of buff leather
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buff-brown
of brown tinged with buff
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canary, canary-yellow
having the color of a canary; of a light to moderate yellow
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caramel, caramel brown
having the color of caramel; of a moderate yellow-brown
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carnation
pink or pinkish
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chartreuse
of something having the yellowish green color of Chartreuse liqueur
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chestnut
(of hair or feathers) of a golden brown to reddish brown color
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chestnut-brown
(of hair or feathers) of brown tinged with chestnut
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copper colored, coppery
of something having the color of copper
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coral
of a strong pink to yellowish-pink color
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coral-red
of red tinged with coral
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creamy
of the color of cream
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creamy-yellow
yellow with a creamy tinge
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cress green, cresson, watercress
of a moderate yellow-green color that is greener and deeper than moss green and yellower and darker than pea green
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crimson-magenta
magenta tinged with crimson
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crimson-purple
purple tinged with crimson
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crimson-yellow
yellow tinged with crimson
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dark-blue
of a dark shade of blue
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deep-pink
of a deep shade of pink
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deep-yellow
of something having the color of a pumpkin
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dull-purple
of a dull shade of purple
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dun
of a dull greyish brown to brownish grey color
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earthlike
earth colored; of something having a color of soil or earth
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fuscous, taupe
of something having a dusky brownish grey color
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golden-yellow
of yellow tinged with gold
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golden-brown
of brown tinged with gold
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golden-green
of green tinged with gold
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gray-blue, grayish-blue, grey-blue, greyish-blue
of blue tinged with grey
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gray-brown, grayish-brown, grey-brown, greyish-brown
of brown tinged with grey
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gray-green, grayish-green, grey-green, greyish-green
of green tinged with grey
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gray-pink, grayish-pink, grey-pink, greyish-pink
of pink tinged with grey
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dark-green, green, greenish, light-green
of the color between blue and yellow in the color spectrum; similar to the color of fresh grass
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greenish-brown
of brown tinged with green
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hazel
of a light brown or yellowish brown color
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hazel-brown
of brown tinged with hazel
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honey
of something having the color of honey
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jade, jade-green
of something having the color of jade; especially varying from bluish green to yellowish green
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khaki
of a yellowish brown color
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lavender, lilac, lilac-colored
of a pale purple color
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lavender-tinged
of something tinged with lavender
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light-blue, pale blue
of a light shade of blue
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lilac-blue, violet-blue
of blue tinged with lavender
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lavender-pink, lilac-pink, violet-pink
of pink tinged with lavender
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lilac-purple
of purple tinged with lilac
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magenta
of deep purplish red
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magenta pink
of pink tinged with magenta
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brownish-red, maroon
of dark brownish to purplish red
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maroon-purple
of purple tinged with maroon
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mauve
of a pale to moderate greyish violet color
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mauve-blue
of blue tinged with mauve
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mauve-pink
of pink tinged with mauve
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moss green, mosstone
of a moderate somewhat dull yellow-green color
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mouse-colored, mouselike, mousey, mousy
of something having a drab pale brown color resembling a mouse
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ocher, ochre
of a moderate orange-yellow color
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olive-brown
of a brown color with a greenish tinge
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drab, olive-drab
of a light brownish green color
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olive
of a yellow-green color similar to that of an unripe olive
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orange, orangish
of the color between red and yellow; similar to the color of a ripe orange
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orange-red, orangish-red
of red tinged with orange
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orange-brown
of brown tinged with orange
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peachy, peachy-colored, peachy-coloured
of something resembling a peach in color
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peacock-blue
of bright greenish blue
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pea-green
of a moderate slightly yellowish-green color
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pink, pinkish
of a light shade of red
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pink-lavender, pinkish-lavender
of lavender tinged with pink
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pink-orange, pinkish-orange, salmon
of orange tinged with pink
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pink-red
of red tinged with pink
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pink-tinged
of a color tinged with pink
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pink-purple, pinkish-purple
of purple tinged with pink
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powder blue, powdery-blue
of a moderate to pale blue or purplish blue
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purple, purplish, violet
of a color intermediate between red and blue
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purple-blue, purplish-blue
of blue tinged with purple
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purple-brown, purplish-brown
of brown tinged with purple
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purple-green, purplish-green
of green tinged with purple
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purple-lilac, purplish-lilac
of lavender tinged with purple
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purple-red, purplish-red
of red tinged with purple
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purple-tinged, purple-tinted
of a color tinged with purple
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blood-red, carmine, cerise, cherry, cherry-red, crimson, red, reddish, ruby, ruby-red, ruddy, scarlet
of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
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mahogany-red, red-brown, reddish-brown
of brown tinged with red
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red-lavender, reddish-lavender
of something having a lavender color tinged with red
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reddish-pink
of a pink color that is close to red
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flame-orange, red-orange, reddish-orange
of orange tinged with red
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red-purple
of purple tinged with red
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red-violet, reddish-violet
of violet tinged with red
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rosaceous, rose, roseate
of something having a dusty purplish pink color
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rose-red
of a deep slightly bluish red color
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rose-lavender, rose-lilac
of lavender tinged with rose
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rose-mauve
of mauve tinged with rose
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rose-purple, rosy-purple
of purple with a rose tinge
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rose-tinged, rose-tinted
of a color tinged with rose
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russet
of brown with a reddish tinge
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rust, rust-brown, rusty
of the brown color of rust
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rust-red, rusty-red
of a red color tinged with rust
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rusty-brown
of something having the brown color of rust
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sage, sage-green
of the grey-green color of sage leaves
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sapphire
of something having the color of a blue sapphire
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scarlet-crimson
of crimson tinged with scarlet
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scarlet-pink
of pink tinged with scarlet
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sea-green
of the color of the sea; bluish green
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silver-blue, silvery-blue
of something having a color that is a light shiny blue
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silver-green, silvery-green
of something having a color that is a light shiny green
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chukker-brown, mummy-brown, snuff, snuff-brown
snuff colored; of a greyish to yellowish brown
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brownish-orange, sorrel
of a light brownish color
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stone
of any of various dull tannish or grey colors
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straw
of a pale yellow color like straw; straw-colored
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sulfur-yellow, sulphur-yellow
of something having the yellow color of sulfur
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tan
of a light yellowish-brown color
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tannish
of a color resembling tan
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tangerine
of a strong reddish orange color
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tawny, tawny-brown
of a light brown to brownish orange color; the color of tanned leather
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ultramarine
of a brilliant pure blue to purplish blue color
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umber
of the color of any of various natural brown earth pigments
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Chinese-red, cinnabar, vermilion, vermillion
of a vivid red to reddish-orange color
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vinaceous
of the color of wine
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violet-tinged, violet-tinted
of something that is tinged with violet
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white-pink
of pink tinged with white; a light tint of pink
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wine-red
of something having the dark red color of red wine
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xanthous, yellow, yellowish
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
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yellow-beige, yellowish-beige
of beige tinged with yellow;
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yellow-green
of a color midway between yellow and green
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yellow-orange, yellowish-orange
of orange tinged with yellow
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yellow-tinged
of a color tinged with yellow
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colored, colorful, coloured
having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination
- show more antonyms...
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argent, silver, silverish, silvery
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having no net electric charge
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synonyms:
electroneutral
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uncharged
of a particle or body or system; having no charge
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uncharged
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having only a limited ability to react chemically; chemically inactive
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synonyms:
indifferent, inert
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unreactive
(chemistry) not reacting chemically
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unreactive
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one who does not side with any party in a war or dispute
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types:
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fence-sitter
a person who won't take sides in a controversy
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stakeholder
someone entrusted to hold the stakes for two or more persons betting against one another; must deliver the stakes to the winner
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fence-sitter
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a disengaged position, as of gears
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type of:
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gear, gear mechanism
a mechanism for transmitting motion for some specific purpose (as the steering gear of a vehicle)
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gear, gear mechanism
Pronunciation
US
/ˈnutrəl/
UK
/ˈnutrəl/
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Word Family
Vocabulary lists containing neutral
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