pale in comparison

verb

To appear small or unimportant in relation to something else.

“This is pale in comparison to that.”

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Meanings

verbpale in comparison (third-person singular simple present pales in comparison, present participle paling in comparison, simple past and past participle paled in comparison)

present singular third person pales in comparison · participle present paling in comparison · participle past paled in comparison · past paled in comparison · alternative pale by comparison

  1. idiomaticTo appear small or unimportant in relation to something else.

    Before Minecraft released The Nether Update in 2020, diamonds were the strongest material in the game. Leather, iron, and gold paled in comparison to the strength, durability, and protection diamond gear provided.

    2023 October 9, Zackerie Fairfax, “How to get Netherite in Minecraft – crafting guide and tips”, in Dexerto
adjectivepale in comparison (comparative more pale in comparison, superlative most pale in comparison)

comparative more pale in comparison · superlative most pale in comparison · alternative pale by comparison

  1. nonstandardSynonym of pale in comparison.

    This is pale in comparison to that.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
pale into insignificance

Translations

Finnish kalveta jonkun rinnalla
  • kalveta jonkun rinnallaappear unimportant
French faire pâle figure
  • faire pâle figureappear unimportant
Polish blednąć, zblednąć
  • blednąćappear unimportant
  • zblednąćappear unimportant
Russian бледне́ть на фоне
  • бледне́ть на фоне (blednétʹ na fone)appear unimportant
Spanish no compararse, palidecer en comparación
  • no compararseappear unimportant
  • palidecer en comparaciónappear unimportant
Cite this entry
APA

pale in comparison. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pale%20in%20comparison

MLA

“pale in comparison.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pale%20in%20comparison. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pale in comparison,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pale%20in%20comparison.

Source: pale in comparison on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.