pixelated
adjective
pix·e·lat·ed
ˈpik-sə-ˌlā-təd 
of an image
: displayed in such a manner that individual pixels are discernible
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Is it pixelated or pixilated?
Pixelated is used to describe digital images in which individual pixels are discernable, as when you look closely at a large photo and can see the tiny dots that make up the image. Pixilated (coined from pixie, a pixie being a cheerful, mischievous sprite) is usually used to describe things considered whimsical, or people who seem dazed or lost in thought. While pixelated is a late 20th century coinage, pixilated has been in use since the mid-19th century.
Examples of pixelated in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These are no longer the pixelated images NFTs are often associated with.
—
Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
In this medium, too, McNally quickly grasped the charm of rough edges—instead of stained walls, there were pixelated screenshots, which appeared on the grid alongside family photos, pop-culture musings, and, in time, end-of-day reports from his restaurants.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
Large, detailed, and pleasantly pixelated characters leap across bold environments with crisp animation.
—Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025
In 2025, that emotional fast food ritual is back, this time pixelated and playfully spicy.
—Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pixelated
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Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
In this medium, too, McNally quickly grasped the charm of rough edges—instead of stained walls, there were pixelated screenshots, which appeared on the grid alongside family photos, pop-culture musings, and, in time, end-of-day reports from his restaurants.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
Large, detailed, and pleasantly pixelated characters leap across bold environments with crisp animation.
—Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025
In 2025, that emotional fast food ritual is back, this time pixelated and playfully spicy.
—Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pixelated
Cite this Entry
“Pixelated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pixelated. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
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