eclectic

adjective

i-ˈklek-tik How to pronounce eclectic (audio)
Definition of eclecticnext
as in varied
consisting of many things of different sorts the museum's eclectic collection has everything from a giraffe skeleton to medieval musical instruments

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 eclectic This Billingsgate community has access to public transportation, golf, equestrian centers, local farm stands, hiking trails, the Farmington River, public library, and an unlimited range of eclectic dining, coffee shops and retail establishments. — James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026 Inside, the aesthetic is a study in NorCal quiet luxury, with plenty of smooth blonde wood, layered textiles, and eclectic furniture pieces, plus Parachute linens and Le Labo bath goodies. — Rachel Tepper Paley, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026 The album features an eclectic roster of guests, including Paul McCartney, who also appeared on the Stones’ 2023 album Hackney Diamonds, as well as Steve Winwood, the Cure’s Robert Smith and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 14 Oct. 2026 The milestone arrives with a remarkably eclectic roll call of global tastemakers, executives and visionaries. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for eclectic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for eclectic
  1. varied
  2. diverse
  3. mixed
  4. assorted
Adjective
  • The allegations are wide-ranging, varied and horrific, and Brand will have the chance to defend himself likely in a few weeks’ time.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The destinations varied, but both trips gave these women the rare pleasure of having their wishes shape the experiences—and allowed their daughters to know them in a new way.
    — Jenn Sinrich, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of varied
Adjective
  • Conceivably, there is Naftali Bennett, who served as PM in 2021-22 but could not keep his diverse coalition together.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 18 Oct. 2026
  • His great-grandson is focused on how to build a corporate culture that suits both Japan, “our mother countryâ€� and the source of more than half of the group’s sales, and the diverse expectations of 40,000 employees around the world.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of diverse
Adjective
  • In the cursed days of auto-sync, pre-mixed sets, and the celebrity spinner, few have done as much to defend the noble art of the DJ as Felix Manuel, aka Djrum, a selector who combines galactically expansive taste with equally vast technical skill.
    — Ben Cardew, Pitchfork, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Reaction was mixed, with one organizer raising the importance of Black fraternities and sororities on campus.
    — Brittany Shammas, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of mixed
Adjective
  • For decades, Hollywood actor Danny Trejo’s bread and butter was playing gangsters, prison inmates and other assorted criminals.
    — Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The Japanese rice bowl combines soboro (そぼろ)—ground meat, fish, or eggs cooked into fine crumbles—with steamed short-grain rice and assorted toppings.
    — Tadashi Ono & Harris Salat, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of assorted

Browse Nearby Words

éclat
eclectic
eclipse
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Eclectic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eclectic. Accessed 23 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 asunder

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 23

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

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

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
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
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All