grab bag

noun

Definition of grab bagnext
as in variety
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things the festival featured a grab bag of independent films from widely disparate genres

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 grab bag Kiffin sat down with Vanity Fair at the beginning of the month to discuss a whole grab bag of topics, but the most sensational headlines came from his comments regarding his former employer, Ole Miss. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026 Before bed, Agnes adds Garth’s cigarette stub to her grab bag of mementos. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026 Officials said the advisory is not a quake prediction but urged residents to raise their preparedness, such as emergency food and their grab bag just in case, while continuing their daily lives. — CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026 The artists share the 1970s complex with a typical grab bag of Little Havana enterprises catering to a mostly Central American immigrant community — notaries and tax preparers, a dentist, a hair salon, a barber shop, a convenience store, even a storefront Evangelical church. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grab bag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grab bag
  1. variety
  2. assortment
  3. medley
  4. jumble
  5. collage
  6. mixed bag
  7. blend
Noun
  • The nomination for variety special (pre-recorded) means Swift herself is a nominee as the performer and a producer of the concert film, which showcased the final performance of her record-breaking tour.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Where to go From mountains to coastline, Georgia offers a variety of unique habitats for birds.
    — Lesly Gregory, AJC.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of variety
Noun
  • Cotliar went on to work at an assortment of local papers around Los Angeles, then caught wind that The Times had an opening.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • The Protect Illinois Communities Act was signed into law in 2023 by Pritzker and bans AR-15 rifles and similar guns, large-capacity magazines and an assortment of attachments.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026
Definition of assortment
Noun
  • This recipe is the perfect medley of onion dip and cucumber salad that is better than store-bought.
    — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 8 July 2026
  • And for more of a medley, consider three different colorways to line a midcentury-modern lap pool.
    — Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 30 June 2026
Definition of medley
Noun
  • Arches and natural bridges sweep like buttresses from jumbles of rock, giving this landscape a mystical, cathedral-like quality.
    — Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Macaroons are chewy jumbles of coconut bound together with egg whites and sweetened condensed milk.
    — Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of jumble
Noun
  • Frequently incorporating African American women as her subjects, her paintings and collages center around race, femininity, and memory.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 9 July 2026
  • Through the gallery, the Shannons represent Kevin West, whose work has been show at Newfields Art Museum in Indianapolis and the Cincinnati Art Museum, fiber artist Sherry Shine, and collage artist Yolanda Ward.
    — Sheryl Nance-Nash, ARTnews.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of collage
Noun
  • However, the widening trade deficit poses a mixed bag for the retailers and brands.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 7 July 2026
  • The month brings focus to your friendships, finances and relationships, creating a mixed bag of growth and self-reflection.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Definition of mixed bag
Noun
  • The cotton-and-bamboo blend feels buttery-soft and breathable, while the relaxed tee and boxer shorts are comfortable enough for sleeping or slow mornings around the house.
    — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
  • Also known as fragrance stacking, layering means mixing scents to create your own custom blend according to Almira Armstrong, founder of Lumira.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 6 July 2026
Definition of blend

Browse Nearby Words

grab
grab bag
grab bags
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grab bag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grab%20bag. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
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
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All