pale in comparison
Look less impressive
To pale in comparison is to seem less impressive, significant, or intense when measured against something else.
The image is of color draining away—what looked vivid on its own becomes washed out next to something more striking: Her troubles pale in comparison to what refugees endure.
Last year's profits pale in comparison to this quarter's.
- weigh againstFactor as negative evidence
- hold a candleBe comparable to
- excelSurpass all others
- live in the shadow ofEclipsed by another's prominence
- faintWeak and indistinct
mere shadow · underwhelm · insignificance · lesser · diminish · trivialized · dim · wilt · outshone · negligible · inferior · small potatoes · make a mockery of · unremarkable · secondary · marginal · small fry · blur
pale in comparisonoutshine
Exceed in brilliance
overshadow · put to shame · eclipse · dwarf · tower over
pale in comparisonstand out
Be noticeably different
shine · steal the show · take center stage · hold one's own · dominate
pale, paler, palest, paleness, paling, compare, comparison, comparable, comparably