# pale in comparison

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/pale-in-comparison
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To appear small or unimportant in relation to something else.

## Examples

- My small problems pale in comparison to yours.
- The minor delays we faced today pale in comparison to the massive project failures we had last year.
- While the new building is impressive, its architectural significance seems to pale in comparison to the ancient monuments found in the city center.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.