pall 1 of 2

noun

Definition of pallnext
1
as in coffin
a boxlike container for holding a dead body bearing her husband's pall were her four brothers and two nephews

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in cloud
an overspreading element that produces an atmosphere of gloom a persistent pall of distrust has overtaken this administration and will remain until the president resigns

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in veil
something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth a pall of gloom overshadowed the failing theater's last production

Synonyms & Similar Words

pall

2 of 2

verb

ˈpȯl How to pronounce pall (audio)
as in to subside
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually viewers' interest in the reality show eventually palled

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word pall different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of pall are cloy, glut, gorge, sate, satiate, and surfeit. While all these words mean "to fill to repletion," pall emphasizes the loss of ability to stimulate interest or appetite.

a life of leisure eventually begins to pall

When is it sensible to use cloy instead of pall?

While the synonyms cloy and pall are close in meaning, cloy stresses the disgust or boredom resulting from such surfeiting.

sentimental pictures that cloy after a while

When might glut be a better fit than pall?

Although the words glut and pall have much in common, glut implies excess in feeding or supplying.

a market glutted with diet books

When is gorge a more appropriate choice than pall?

While in some cases nearly identical to pall, gorge suggests glutting to the point of bursting or choking.

gorged themselves with chocolate

How are the words satiate and sate related as synonyms of pall?

Both satiate and sate may sometimes imply only complete satisfaction but more often suggest repletion that has destroyed interest or desire.

years of globe-trotting had satiated their interest in travel
readers were sated with sensationalistic stories

In what contexts can surfeit take the place of pall?

The meanings of surfeit and pall largely overlap; however, surfeit implies a nauseating repletion.

surfeited themselves with junk food

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of pall
Noun
What once was a world of fellowship has been ruined, covered in a pall of fear. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 17 July 2026 Trump started the day threatening to block Congress’ biggest bipartisan legislation of his second term over a voter ID bill that faces no path to law — casting a pall over a Capitol that had already begun celebrating a rare cost-of-living victory. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 24 June 2026
Verb
But three weeks into their stay — Spain arrived in New Zealand well in advance of its first game, hoping to draw the sting from the jet lag — the place had started to pall. — Rory Smith, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2023 But after a time, the combination of abrasive, impenetrably shellacked characters and deliberately, hopelessly tangled shaggy-dog storytelling begins to pall, and viewers may wish for a simpler way in. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 Aug. 2022 See All Example Sentences for pall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pall
  1. coffin
  2. cloud
  3. veil
  4. subside
  5. casket
  6. shroud
  7. diminish
  8. tomb
Noun
  • After the church service, the crowd climbed up a steep hill and followed the hearses transporting the coffins to a nearby cemetery.
    — Evens Sanon, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Since Harald's death Friday morning, tens of thousands of Norwegians have expressed their grief by laying flowers, writing cards and lighting candles in front of the royal palace in Oslo, where the coffin arrived late Friday from the hospital.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of coffin
Noun
  • The second jet, which was right behind, flew through a cloud of pink dust that shot up from the stadium roof as part of the pregame show.
    — Michelle Gumede, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The most common type of cloud seeding used in the United States is almost all done in Western states, according to University of Illinois emeritus professor of climate, meteorology and atmospheric sciences Robert Rauber.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of cloud
Noun
  • The jeweler recently posted up-close photos of the ring on Instagram, as well as a snap of Lee wearing a white veil and kissing Posty’s head while showing off the sparkling rock on her finger to the camera.
    — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The bride wore a sleeveless, knee-length A-line frock, paired with a short tulle veil and simple white heels.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of veil
Verb
  • Though impending rainstorms are likely to make rescue operations more difficult, officials say a previous threat from a lake that had formed on the border between Nepal and Tibet has substantially subsided.
    — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Opinion ​polls gave the king firm backing to stay on for life, however, and the criticism subsided.
    — Terje Solsvik, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of subside
Noun
  • Her casket sat at the front of the church, draped with an American flag.
    — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Haunted Mansion props on the parade floats will include the conservatory casket, cryptic gravestones, gargoyle candleholders, watchful busts, haunted armor and stretching room portraits.
    — Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of casket
Noun
  • The secrecy mandate in state law shrouds more than just the financial details of a project.
    — Rob Davis, ProPublica, 21 Aug. 2026
  • While music from the Campari Lounge boomed into the evening, approximately 100 demonstrators unwound a shroud bearing the names of 60,000 people who have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war two and a half years ago.
    — John Bleasdale, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of shroud
Verb
  • At least one expert said that some workers could have access to oxygen, but others warned that the chances of finding survivors were diminishing.
    — Shristi Kafle, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Violence diminishes its victims, forcing everyone to play a single thankless role.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of diminish
Noun
  • In fact, 58 people were present when King Tut’s tomb was opened, and only eight died within 12 years.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026
  • All three will face a slew of charges, including injuring or removing a tomb or monument, disturbing the contents of a grave or tomb and grand theft, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday.
    — Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of tomb

Browse Nearby Words

palish
pall
palladia
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pall. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pall

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pall

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