The Color Thesaurus

Caligula's Launderette · 2006-10-06T05:30:47Z

This really isn't a writing tip, but a resource. Several years ago tired of writing the same colors over and over again: (green, blue, yellow, black, white, or adding light or dark to the front of the color), I sat down with a thesaurus and dictionary and made myself a simple color thesaurus. Now going through my creativity dumpter, I found the sheet again. I thought I'd share. If anyone has any questions on what the actual colors are, I'll post those too. Yours, CL. The Color Thesaurus YELLOW/GOLD flaxen platinum golden sulphur canary cream (yellow) saffron straw auric/auricumous golden bisque lemon sun/sunny leucous topaz WHITE ash off-white snow/snowy cream alabaster ivory pale bleach milky blanche albino GREEN emerald lime jade shamrock chartreuse nile paris verdet myrtle sea sea-foam glaucous aquamarine olive moss verdant viridian apple forest grass vert beryl peridot BLUE dusty powder baby aquamarine ultramarine beryl cobalt marine nile robin's egg turquoise teal cadet china mulberry azure cerulean lapis royal sapphire navy slate peacock topaz (blue) PURPLE amethyst periwinkle violet lilac heliotrope orchid plum lavender indigo mauve maroon burgendy wine pomegranate violaceous perse PINK rose coral primrose blush fushia magenta salmon baby RED hyacinth crimson ruby scarlet vermillion cardinal carmine cherry cerise wine dahlia damask rubicund sanguine vermeil titian garnet burgundy ORANGE tangerine flame apricot peach BLACK blue-black ebony raven jet soot ink/inky coal black cimmerian obsidian dusky dark midnight aphotic BROWN sable flaxen copper umber amber tawny fawn ochre coffee auburn bronze chestnut cinnamon henna hazel russet tan beige almond brindle khaki nut-brown dun brunet roan mahogany taupe topaz GREY silver pepper and salt dove grizzly dapple pearl-gray iron-gray mouse-gray taupe steel

Myth

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Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:04 am

Myth says... · Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:04 am

So many colours... :shock:

How about opal?

Nice one CL.

.: ₪ :.

'...'

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Elelel

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Tue Oct 10, 2006 6:03 am

Elelel says... · Tue Oct 10, 2006 6:03 am

Hehe! Fantastic! I love colour, and words for colour, and sparkly gem colours!

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Skye

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Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:09 pm

Skye says... · Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:09 pm

I officially love you forever. *saves*

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lillizard

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Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:05 am

lillizard says... · Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:05 am

I think that topaz is kind of a darkish red actually.

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Firestarter

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Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:05 pm

Firestarter says... · Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:05 pm

I forgot to bookmark this the first time but I have it now! Really useful article that deserves a bump.

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Twit

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Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:09 pm

Twit says... · Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:09 pm

O_O

Topaz...

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Carlito

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Wed Jan 14, 2009 2:53 am

Carlito says... · Wed Jan 14, 2009 2:53 am

wow, thank you so much for making this! This is beyond helpful!
*bookmarks*

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Icaruss

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Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:01 am

Icaruss says... · Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:01 am

The problem with this kind of thing is that you can tell when the author is trying too hard. Like, when he's avoiding the words red or blue. And he keeps using weird colors like beryl and mouse-gray. Then he sounds pathetic. It's the same way with "said." It's OK to mix it up a little, if it makes sense, but when you're using every possible way to say "said" instead of just saying "said," then it sounds silly.