colorful

adjective

ˈkə-lər-fəl How to pronounce colorful (audio)
Definition of colorfulnext
as in colored
marked by a variety of usually vivid colors the colorful robes and blankets of the Native Americans of the Southwest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of colorful These colorful findings are described in a study recently published in the journal RAS Techniques and Instruments. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026 Castle Town bustled more than ever, teeming with banners, flowers and colorful citizenry. — James Perkins Mastromarino, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026 The colorful trial started on October 6, with Capone sporting a yellow suit. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Oct. 2026 At Cornell’s Student & Campus Life Center, a junior working the front desk looks up from her laptop, covered in colorful Bible-verse stickers, to nervously answer a few questions. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for colorful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colorful
  1. colored
  2. varied
  3. rainbow
  4. vibrant
  5. various
Adjective
  • Vivier’s signature buckle can be rendered in gold or silver, with colored brass available on select styles.
    — Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Its cyan-colored vehicles will compete with Ubers, Lyfts and autonomous taxis to shuttle customers across busy streets and freeways.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of colored
Adjective
  • It’s been a dynamic year with a varied complexion of transactions, from mega-mergers to portfolio pruning through corporate divestitures.
    — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • That role now means navigating industry contraction and uncertainty and ensuring Hollywood producers keep coming to Ontario for tax credits, local talent and varied locations.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of varied
Adjective
  • Players whose teams wore Pride Night caps had the option to wear their everyday, non-rainbow hats.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 19 June 2026
  • The numbers on the backs of player jerseys were rainbow, and there were constantly pride/rainbow graphics popping up on the jumbotron.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 June 2026
Definition of rainbow
Adjective
  • Shoes also embraced a more playful and expressive spirit, with jewels, bows, flowers, bold prints and vibrant colors.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • An intermediate version had more saturated, vibrant colors, but discussions with the director led to a more subdued final grade, closer to the original photography.
    — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of vibrant
Adjective
  • The show is about the conglomeration of various immigrant groups and people taking advantage of one another in different ways in the Central Valley in California of that era.
    — Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Arden wouldn’t disclose which ones would feature, but various accounts by fashion publications previously reported that Winehouse also wore Alien by Thierry Mugler, Vera Wang Princess, and Givenchy’s Hot Couture.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of various

Browse Nearby Words

colored
colorful
colorfully
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Colorful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colorful. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of syncretic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All