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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of motley
Katherine Burns Olson, Architectural Digest, 17 Apr. 2025
Daisy, and a motley group of co-workers, toil in a cottage industry of agencies that evaluate harmful and offensive pictures and videos uploaded to social media.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 7 Mar. 2025
Esha Chhabra, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2022
His tall, broad-shouldered hunchback stomps around the court in the multi-colored motley teasing his master and his henchmen with seeming good-natured gaiety.
—Bill Hirschman, sun-sentinel.com, 14 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for motley
Adjective
Their Manhattan apartment building is home to a motley ensemble of residents that could’ve come straight from Central Casting.
—Katherine Burns Olson, Architectural Digest, 17 Apr. 2025
Daisy, and a motley group of co-workers, toil in a cottage industry of agencies that evaluate harmful and offensive pictures and videos uploaded to social media.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
With a total team of 25 today, Schaper is trying to juggle a motley of distribution channels, each with their own unique needs and processes.
—Esha Chhabra, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2022
His tall, broad-shouldered hunchback stomps around the court in the multi-colored motley teasing his master and his henchmen with seeming good-natured gaiety.
—Bill Hirschman, sun-sentinel.com, 14 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for motley
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motley
Adjective
-
His tastes are eclectic, ranging from early classical to Art Deco and Modernist designs.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
9 July 2025
-
He is known for his eclectic role choices, including reuniting with Back to the Future director Robert Zemeckis for the performance-capture movie Beowulf (2007).—
Kate Hogan,
People.com,
3 July 2025
Adjective
-
Mexico draws travelers for its irresistible regional cuisines, colorful textiles and art, and millennia-old traditions—all of which are well-reflected in the country’s eclectic hotels.—
Sarah Bruning,
Travel + Leisure,
8 July 2025
-
This Superman brings back the colorful visuals, the humor, the clever quips in the midst of battle, the lightheartedness of the vintage comics.—
Scott Phillips,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
At best, Trantalis and Glassman are being played for fools.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
7 July 2025
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Not even the streamers could provide a lot of new entertainment for us fools.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
5 July 2025
Noun
-
To attract a wider assortment of bird species, plant both evergreen and deciduous trees.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 July 2025
-
Time is running out, so here’s a fresh assortment of markdowns to choose from.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
The reality of Cancun is much more varied and infinitely richer than most visitors realize.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
12 July 2025
-
Beaches on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast The Pacific coast runs the length of the country’s western edge, and the landscape is more varied and rugged than on the Caribbean.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
An evil clown turned serial killer who terrorizes a fictional New York City borough during Halloween and Christmas will join a maniacal lineup of murderers, mutants and monsters during this year’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
10 July 2025
-
White-stripe nails Circus-stripe nails Just like a striped Big Top tent, this circus set is complete with stars and clowns.—
Dominic Cadogan,
Glamour,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
In jumbles of old stones that, to me, are barely legible as the remains of buildings, Cocon López could see the entire timeline of old Aké and how later people interacted with and repurposed what came before.—
Lizzie Wade,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 May 2025
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Instead, voters themselves are jumbles of competing and sometimes contradictory interests.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Many craft liquor brands and assorted businesses, like bitters, are facing challenges, and several, like The Bitter Housewife are quietly closing.—
Jeanette Hurt,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
-
This is your last chance to stock up on Disney Lego builds, sets from Star Wars, Lego Harry Potter scenes, assorted bricks, and so much more for up to 57 percent off.—
Mia Huelsbeck,
People.com,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Motley.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motley. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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