diff --git a/master_changes.md b/master_changes.md
index 3fb0297b34c..aef29e1f5d8 100644
--- a/master_changes.md
+++ b/master_changes.md
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ users)
 ## List
 
 ## Show
+  * Display the version number of packages flagged with avoid-version/deprecated gray [#6358 @kit-ty-kate - fix #6354]
 
 ## Var/Option
 
@@ -189,6 +190,7 @@ users)
   * Manual: add information when flags (`avoid-version`, `deprecated`) were introduced [#6320 @hannesm]
   * Add winget command for installing opam [#6338 @tobil4sk]
   * Fix broken link to non-existing archlinux community repo [#6361 @juergenhoetzel]
+  * Document the meaning of colored version numbers in the manpage of `opam show` [#6358 @kit-ty-kate]
 
 ## Security fixes
 
@@ -213,6 +215,7 @@ users)
   * `OpamFile.Repos_config.t`: change the type to not allow repositories without an URL [#6249 @kit-ty-kate]
 
 ## opam-core
+  * `OpamConsole`: Replace `black` text style (unused and not very readable) by `gray` [#6358 @kit-ty-kate]
   * `OpamStd.List.split`: Improve performance [#6210 @kit-ty-kate]
   * `OpamStd.Sys.{get_terminal_columns,uname,getconf,guess_shell_compat}`: Harden the process calls to account for failures [#6230 @kit-ty-kate - fix #6215]
   * `OpamStd.Sys.getconf`: was removed, replaced by `get_long_bit` [#6217 @kit-ty-kate]
diff --git a/src/client/opamCommands.ml b/src/client/opamCommands.ml
index e76dff1734b..a6c4a9d3ae9 100644
--- a/src/client/opamCommands.ml
+++ b/src/client/opamCommands.ml
@@ -921,7 +921,18 @@ let show cli =
         available packages as well as a short description for each.";
     `P "Paths to package definition files or to directories containing package \
         definitions can also be specified, in which case the corresponding \
-        metadata will be shown."
+        metadata will be shown.";
+    `P "Note: on terminal supporting it, version numbers can be colored the \
+        following ways:";
+    `Noblank;
+    `I ("-", "Magenta and bold: versions installed the current switch");
+    `Noblank;
+    `I ("-", "Bold: versions installed in other switches");
+    `Noblank;
+    `I ("-", "Red and crossed: versions not available on the current platform");
+    `Noblank;
+    `I ("-", "Gray: versions tagged with the $(i,avoid-version) or \
+              $(i,deprecated) flag");
   ] in
   let fields =
     mk_opt ~cli cli_original ["f";"field"] "FIELDS"
diff --git a/src/client/opamListCommand.ml b/src/client/opamListCommand.ml
index 5c51a333d76..232a30d6563 100644
--- a/src/client/opamListCommand.ml
+++ b/src/client/opamListCommand.ml
@@ -506,6 +506,7 @@ let field_of_string ~raw =
     | Some f -> Field f
     | None -> OpamConsole.error_and_exit `Bad_arguments "No printer for %S" s
 
+(* NOTE: upon changes, please update the man page section in opamCommands.ml *)
 let version_color st nv =
   let installed = (* (in any switch) *)
     OpamGlobalState.installed_versions st.switch_global nv.name
@@ -520,7 +521,14 @@ let version_color st nv =
   in
   if OpamPackage.Set.mem nv st.installed then [`bold;`magenta] else
     (if OpamPackage.Map.mem nv installed then [`bold] else []) @
-    (if is_available nv then [] else [`crossed;`red])
+    (if is_available nv then
+       match OpamSwitchState.opam_opt st nv with
+       | Some opam when
+           OpamFile.OPAM.has_flag Pkgflag_AvoidVersion opam ||
+           OpamFile.OPAM.has_flag Pkgflag_Deprecated opam ->
+         [`gray]
+       | None | Some _ -> []
+     else [`crossed;`red])
 
 let mini_field_printer ?(prettify=false) ?(normalise=false) =
   let module OpamPrinter = OpamPrinter.FullPos in
diff --git a/src/core/opamConsole.ml b/src/core/opamConsole.ml
index 66d1eebc786..0f79f88f392 100644
--- a/src/core/opamConsole.ml
+++ b/src/core/opamConsole.ml
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ type text_style =
   [ `bold
   | `underline
   | `crossed
-  | `black
+  | `gray
   | `red
   | `green
   | `yellow
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ let style_code (c: text_style) = match c with
   | `bold      -> "01"
   | `underline -> "04"
   | `crossed   -> "09"
-  | `black     -> "30"
+  | `gray      -> "90"
   | `red       -> "31"
   | `green     -> "32"
   | `yellow    -> "33"
diff --git a/src/core/opamConsole.mli b/src/core/opamConsole.mli
index ce2cb279361..d6744258030 100644
--- a/src/core/opamConsole.mli
+++ b/src/core/opamConsole.mli
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ val disp_status_line: unit -> bool
 (** Settable attributes for ANSI terminal output. Nesting is generally not
     handled. *)
 type text_style =
-  [ `black
+  [ `gray
   | `blue
   | `bold
   | `crossed