dyed

dyed — adjective

1. Describes cloth, hair, or other material whose original color has been changed b

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

Describes cloth, hair, or other material whose original color has been changed by putting it into a colored liquid, typically to improve its appearance.

Example

Tamar wore a beautiful dyed silk scarf that she had bought in Marrakech.

attributive use: dyed + noun

The hairdresser recommended a semi-permanent dyed color to cover the gray strands.

collocation: dyed color

Common collocations
  • dyed hair
  • dyed fabric
  • dyed wool
  • dyed silk
  • dyed cotton
  • naturally dyed
  • brightly dyed
  • hand-dyed
  • semi-permanent dyed
Synonyms
  • colored

    most general term — simply means having color, not necessarily changed from an original

  • tinted

    implies a lighter or more subtle color change, often translucent

  • stained

    suggests the color penetrated deeply; common for wood and fabrics that absorb liquid dye

Antonyms
  • undyed

    in its original, natural color — no artificial color added

  • bleached

    color intentionally removed or lightened, which is the opposite process

Grammar Patterns

dyed + noun

be + dyed

adverb + dyed

Usage Note

Describes the finished state after dyeing, not the action itself. Frequently used with adverbs describing the method or appearance — for example, 'brightly dyed', 'hand-dyed', 'naturally dyed'.

Common Mistakes

She bought dying fabric.
She bought dyed fabric.
'dying' means 'about to die'; 'dyed' means 'color changed'. The spelling difference is also easy to mix up: dye → dyeing (process), die → dying (end of life).
He likes dye clothes.
He likes dyed clothes.
the adjective 'dyed' describes the noun; 'dye' without '-ed' is a verb or noun and needs a different sentence structure.

2. Describes someone whose opinions, habits, or preferences are so strongly fixed t

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

Describes someone whose opinions, habits, or preferences are so strongly fixed that they never change. Almost always appears in the fixed compound 'dyed-in-the-wool' before a noun.

Example

My uncle Christopher is a dyed-in-the-wool fan of the local baseball team.

compound adjective: dyed-in-the-wool + noun

Even after ten years in Taipei, Aylin stayed a dyed-in-the-wool country person.

Common collocations
  • dyed-in-the-wool conservative
  • dyed-in-the-wool traditionalist
  • dyed-in-the-wool fan
  • dyed-in-the-wool supporter
  • dyed-in-the-wool believer
Synonyms
  • committed

    less emphatic; implies loyalty but allows the possibility of change

  • steadfast

    more formal, positive connotation of reliability

  • hardcore

    similar intensity but more informal and often used for hobbies or fandom

Antonyms
  • half-hearted

    lacking strong commitment or enthusiasm

  • fickle

    changing opinions or loyalties frequently

Grammar Patterns

dyed-in-the-wool + noun

Usage Note

ALWAYS used in the full compound 'dyed-in-the-wool' placed before a noun. This sense cannot stand alone — you cannot say *'he is dyed'* to mean he has fixed beliefs. In Taiwan English-learning contexts, this phrase is more common in reading than in everyday conversation.

Common Mistakes

He is a dyed-in-the-wool.
He is a dyed-in-the-wool conservative.
The compound must be followed by a noun describing the type of belief or person.
His opinions are dyed-in-the-wool.
He is a dyed-in-the-wool conservative.
The compound is used attributively before a noun, not predicatively after a linking verb.

Word family

  • dye
    nounB1
  • dye
    verbB1
  • dyeing
    nounB1
  • dyer
    nounB2
  • undyed
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three describe a change in color, but they differ in how the color is applied and what it looks like. 'Colored' is the broadest word — it simply means something has color, whether natural or artificial. 'Tinted' suggests a light or subtle layer of color, often translucent (like tinted glass or tinted moisturizer). 'Stained' implies the color has soaked into the material and is hard to remove, common with wood finishes or spilled liquids that leave a mark. For example: you might buy a 'colored' T-shirt in any shade, put 'tinted' lenses in your glasses to reduce glare, and accidentally get coffee 'stained' on your white rug.

colored ↗tintedstained

Etymology

Old EnglishProto-GermanicEnglish

The word 'dye' comes from the Old English noun 'dēag', meaning 'color, hue', which is related to Proto-Germanic '*daugō'. The past participle 'dyed' was already used as an adjective by the 1300s. The figurative sense in 'dyed-in-the-wool' comes from the textile industry — wool that is dyed before being spun into thread holds its color far longer than wool dyed after weaving. By the early 1800s, this manufacturing term had become a metaphor for someone whose beliefs are so deeply set that no experience can wash them out.