1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

gumbo

noun

ˈgəm-(ˌ)bō How to pronounce gumbo (audio)
Definition of gumbonext
as in medley
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things drew his artistic inspiration from the city's rich gumbo of musical styles

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 gumbo When used in gumbo, okra releases its mucilage, which naturally thickens the stew, says Rice. — Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 7 Aug. 2026 Just one block over from Sky’s, celebrity-favorite Stevie’s Creole Cafe is still going strong with po’boy sandwiches, gumbo and daily specials. — Danielle Dorsey, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 All the Louisiana lifers create a richer, deeper culture with their own food (gumbo and beignets), music (New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz) and festivals (Mardi Gras). — Matt Baker, New York Times, 17 July 2026 As a result, filé and okra became primary thickeners of the dish that became known as gumbo. — Ashley Rose Young, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for gumbo
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gumbo
  1. medley
  2. variety
  3. jumble
  4. assortment
  5. collage
  6. jambalaya
  7. stew
  8. salad
Noun
  • Derived from the Italian word for garden, Chicago-style giardiniera is a veggie medley cured in vinegar and packed in oil, with a satisfyingly crunchy flavor profile ranging from briny to tangy to hot.
    — Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Musgraves also performed the same song alongside Parton at the 2019 Grammys during a special segment featuring a medley of Parton’s hits.
    — Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of medley
Noun
  • Cool Pacific breezes and a variety of soils make this stretch of Northern California a perfect place to grow grapes.
    — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Tony's Pizza Napoletana delivers a heady variety of regional styles in addition to its namesake Neapolitan (chef-owner Tony Gemignani's Neapolitan Margherita helped jump-start his career).
    — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of variety
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
  • Senior quarterback Wyatt Tewell has completed 74 of 105 pass attempts for 1,049 yards and 13 TDs with just one interception, connecting with an assortment of receivers.
    — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
  • And because this marks the brand’s 25th anniversary, Peter Millar also created a sophisticated, luxury assortment to celebrate, which will also make its appearance in the marketing materials.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of assortment
Noun
  • Though his practice additionally encompasses drawing, sculpture, photography, printmaking, and collage, Shearer acknowledged the primacy of painting in his oeuvre.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The Artist Loft features artists in residence who teach workshops in various mediums, from collage to watercolor.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of collage
Noun
  • Strained, the broth is savory and often used as a base for hearty dishes, like soups, grits, jambalaya, gumbo, casseroles, and more.
    — Jessica Farthing, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2026
  • Menu items will include jambalaya, truffle tenderloin steak and Louisiana-style braised short ribs, according to permitting documents.
    — Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of jambalaya
Noun
  • That evening, the household, with the exception of Lizzie, fell ill again after eating mutton stew.
    — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2026
  • This Dutch oven will come in handy for fall dishes like hearty stews, sourdough loaves, and more.
    — Madison Yauger, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of stew
Noun
  • Fresh, plump blueberries in the salad add little bursts of sweetness, and the earthiness of lightly toasted and sliced almonds give balance to the vinegar.
    — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Longwood provided us with an $18 voucher to use at their café, which featured a variety of prepared salad and sandwich options as well as a hot bar.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of salad

Browse Nearby Words

gum
gumbo
gumbos
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Gumbo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gumbo. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on gumbo

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gumbo

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of bellwether

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

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
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All