complementary color
noun
technical
: one of two colors (such as red and green) that are very different from each other and produce a dull color (such as brown or gray) when they are mixed together
Examples of complementary color in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
McDaniel loves pairing yellow cabinets with soft shades of blue and green to create a complementary color palette that's pleasing to the eye.
—
Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
This fall, look for dresses in earthy or neutral tones—think browns, mossy greens, beige, black, or gray—that will suit an autumnal palette, with flat shoes with metallic, velvet, or patent leather detail in a complementary color.
—René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 27 Sep. 2025
The Orbs at the center of the paintings (one, as is above, the other, so is below) are surrounded by colors that reverberate in complementary color s schemes that nonetheless are strikingly separate.
—Tom Teicholz, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Many found harmony through complementary color palettes.
—Simbarashe Cha, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2024
Her makeup was clean, featuring a subtle pop of complementary color with a red lip.
—Julia Teti, WWD, 22 Nov. 2024
Reds And Pinks Are The Colors Of The Season
While red is always a favorite complementary color in holiday decor, this year designers are reaching for more striking shades of red and pink as the stars of the show.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 19 Nov. 2024
The Stokke high chair comes in so many great colors and is a mainstay in every stylish kitchen—and don’t forget silicone bibs in complementary color schemes!
—Hayley Bloomingdale, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2024
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Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
This fall, look for dresses in earthy or neutral tones—think browns, mossy greens, beige, black, or gray—that will suit an autumnal palette, with flat shoes with metallic, velvet, or patent leather detail in a complementary color.
—René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 27 Sep. 2025
The Orbs at the center of the paintings (one, as is above, the other, so is below) are surrounded by colors that reverberate in complementary color s schemes that nonetheless are strikingly separate.
—Tom Teicholz, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Many found harmony through complementary color palettes.
—Simbarashe Cha, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2024
Her makeup was clean, featuring a subtle pop of complementary color with a red lip.
—Julia Teti, WWD, 22 Nov. 2024
Reds And Pinks Are The Colors Of The Season
While red is always a favorite complementary color in holiday decor, this year designers are reaching for more striking shades of red and pink as the stars of the show.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 19 Nov. 2024
The Stokke high chair comes in so many great colors and is a mainstay in every stylish kitchen—and don’t forget silicone bibs in complementary color schemes!
—Hayley Bloomingdale, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Complementary color.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complementary%20color. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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