1
as in eclectic
consisting of many things of different sorts
a ship with a motley crew of old salts, young adventurers, and shifty characters of all ages
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in colorful
marked by a variety of usually vivid colors
a tropical bird with motley plumage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in assortment
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things
a motley of old junk stored in the attic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of motley
Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026
Their motley cast of puppets, including a lizardlike character named Kermit, sang parody songs and performed comedy sketches.
—Jared Bahir Browsh, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025
This made us—with all our human, mortal limitations—rather like the God of all those past centuries of belief, or should that be credulity: the God who retained and stored away everything in his motley, moveless time, in which nothing was new or old, remote or recent.
—Margaret Jull Costa, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for motley
Adjective
The current membership of the board is a motley mix.
—Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026
Their motley cast of puppets, including a lizardlike character named Kermit, sang parody songs and performed comedy sketches.
—Jared Bahir Browsh, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
Her goal is to start a women’s consciousness-raising group, and her efforts have brought together a motley, inquisitive quintet.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025
This made us—with all our human, mortal limitations—rather like the God of all those past centuries of belief, or should that be credulity: the God who retained and stored away everything in his motley, moveless time, in which nothing was new or old, remote or recent.
—Margaret Jull Costa, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for motley
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motley
Adjective
-
The even more eclectic Tardigrade Collective teams tenor saxophonist Bradley Nash, electric guitarist, bassist and synthesizer player Ryan Bradley and drummer (and UC San Diego alum) Nolan Fewell, who by day is an associate laboratory director at Mobilab Environmental Determinations.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Little Five Points is a bohemian-chic neighborhood with dozens of eclectic stores that are some of the coolest and quirkiest in the entire city.—
Ellie Nan Storck,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Jobs was in charge of the flashy stuff like the new, colorful iMac.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Cranberries and lemons come together to create a colorful dessert that's both tangy and sweet.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Looking for trends after 20-something games is a fool’s errand, of course.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
-
There was always a comedian on somebody’s album doing a skit or some funny one-liners or in the video acting a fool.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That's because, while garlic is a delicious food that adds rich flavor to your favorite recipes, this pungent plant can also repel an assortment of common garden pests, from aphids to deer.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Offering a limited assortment of two- to four-bedroom homes for sale, along with a penthouse collection, ranging from approximately 1,702 to 11,540 square feet, Park Elm developed its wine program in response to a clear shift in how today’s luxury buyers are engaging with wine.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The lighting is varied, treated as another texture in the space, palpable and rich.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Walking shoeless on varied surfaces also may contribute to emotional well-being and overall foot health, according to podiatrists and barefoot enthusiasts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Portage police added that while some students play the game safely using brightly colored water guns, others have created dangerous situations that can trigger panic.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The towering pylon's entire facade lights up with colored LEDs that change according to the time of day, as well as the seasons.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Once completed, the $5 million acquisition will ensure the theater has a permanent home, a place where skateboarding clowns and leek-haired onions can continue to frolic and dance for decades to come.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Titaníque lets his inner clown soar, in drag yet, and with garish make-up just this side of Baby Jane Hudson and a mouth as foul as any David Mamet character.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
12 Apr. 2026
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
Cite this Entry
“Motley.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motley. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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