Synonyms of various

various

adjective

ˈver-ē-əs 

as in varied

marked by a variety of usually vivid colors

for their various and bizarrely shaped plumage, males of the bird of paradise species have few rivals

Synonyms & Similar Words

• varied
• colored
• colorful
• rainbow
• vibrant
• striped
• variegated
• brilliant
• multicolored
• varicolored
• chromatic
• prismatic
• kaleidoscopic
• polychromatic
• motley
• multihued
• polychrome
• bright
• dotted
• spotted
• iridescent
• loud
• brave
• opalescent
• gaudy
• patterned
• showy
• flashy
• garish
• checkered
• plaid
• marbled
• speckled
• gay
• dapple
• dappled
• splashy
• flecked
• banded
• mottled
• striated
• barred
• pied
• specked
• pinto
• streaked
• trichromatic
• plaided
• tricolored
• parti-colored
• dichromatic
• tricolor
• brindle
• parti-color
• brindled
• bicolored
• piebald
• two-toned
• two-tone
• bicolor
• bichrome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• colorless
• solid
• achromatic
• faded
• monochromatic
• gray
• neutral
• grey
• bleached
• pale
• monotone
• faint
• dull
• pallid
• monochromic
• decolorized
• washed-out
• self-colored
• unbrilliant

Synonym Chooser

How is the word various different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of various are different, disparate, divergent, and diverse. While all these words mean "unlike in kind or character," various stresses the number of sorts or kinds.

tried various methods

When could different be used to replace various?

While the synonyms different and various are close in meaning, different may imply little more than separateness but it may also imply contrast or contrariness.

different foods

When is it sensible to use disparate instead of various?

The synonyms disparate and various are sometimes interchangeable, but disparate emphasizes incongruity or incompatibility.

disparate notions of freedom

When would divergent be a good substitute for various?

Although the words divergent and various have much in common, divergent implies movement away from each other and unlikelihood of ultimate meeting or reconciliation.

went on to pursue divergent careers

When is diverse a more appropriate choice than various?

In some situations, the words diverse and various are roughly equivalent. However, diverse implies both distinctness and marked contrast.

such diverse interests as dancing and football

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of various

Officers inside the home saw that the girl was covered in bruises and sores, all in various stages of healing, Tempe police reported at the time. —David Ulloa Jr, AZCentral.com, 4 Oct. 2025

Five other people were treated at hospitals for various injuries. —Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 4 Oct. 2025

Taylor, who died in 2011, was one of the most famous movie stars in the 20th century who won two Oscars and various lifetime achievement awards. —Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025

The White House has proposed layoffs to the federal workforce in response to a prolonged shutdown, which has drawn a lawsuit from various unions representing federal workers. —Steve Inskeep, NPR, 3 Oct. 2025