What does "desaturate" mean?
To cause to become less saturated or unsaturated.
Desaturate
/diːˈsætʃəɹeɪt/ verb
verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To cause to become less saturated or unsaturated.
- Grammar: desaturate is listed as verb.
- Nearest alternatives: decolorize, dilute color, dull color, dulled.
- Useful contrasts: bold color scheme, color adjective, color alteration process.
- Usage evidence: With this in mind, Desai has called for imposing more stringent regulations on the ride-hailing sector, to create a more level playing field and, presumably, to desaturate the pool of drivers.
How to use "desaturate"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "desaturate" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "desaturate" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "desaturate" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "desaturate" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "desaturate" is acting as verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "decolorize" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "desaturate", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To cause to become less saturated or unsaturated. transitive
"With this in mind, Desai has called for imposing more stringent regulations on the ride-hailing sector, to create a more level playing field and, presumably, to desaturate the pool of drivers."
- 2 To cause to become less saturated or unsaturated.; To lessen the saturation of (a colour). transitive
"And similarly, they are full of tricks: when the imagined stranger calls your name, the music crescendos romantically; when the video freezes on your laugh, it immediately desaturates the candid photo, making you look old-timey or famous or dead."
- 3 To cause to become less saturated or unsaturated.; To convert (a saturated compound) to an unsaturated one. transitive
"Mammals, for example, lack the ability to desaturate fatty acids in the n-6 or n-3 position. […] Only plants can desaturate fatty acids at the n-6 or n-3 position, and even among plants, there are species differences."
- 4 To become less saturated or unsaturated.; To decrease in saturation. intransitive
"I am partial to the more threadbare gems and find the more distressed pieces to be the most beautiful. When the rug is worn, the graphic patterns soften slightly, the dye desaturates, and the pile is evenly low so the weave is really visible."
- 5 To become less saturated or unsaturated.; Of the oxygen saturation level in one's hemoglobin: to decrease, to drop. intransitive
""It's all pressure on the heart. Oxygen levels are desaturating, that's not good for the body and the biggest link for untreated sleep apnoea would be heart attacks, strokes and driving accidents," she said."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 To become less saturated or unsaturated.; To undergo a decrease in the oxygen saturation level in the hemoglobin. intransitive
"After Ida left, Susan deteriorated. The next day, the hospital called to say she kept removing her oxygen mask. “Patient desaturates to 82% without mask, however if held then oxygen improves,” her notes say."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
bold color schemecolor adjectivecolor alteration processcolor drawing
Example
"With this in mind, Desai has called for imposing more stringent regulations on the ride-hailing sector, to create a more level playing field and, presumably, to desaturate the pool of drivers."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "desaturate"?
Common synonyms include: decolorize, dilute color, dull color, dulled, grays, uncolored.
How do you use "desaturate" in a sentence?
With this in mind, Desai has called for imposing more stringent regulations on the ride-hailing sector, to create a more level playing field and, presumably, to desaturate the pool of drivers.
How do you pronounce "desaturate"?
Pronounced /diːˈsætʃəɹeɪt/.
Etymology
From de- + saturate.