Synonyms of motley

motley 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmät-lē 

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

• eclectic
• varied
• assorted
• mixed
• diverse
• miscellaneous
• heterogeneous
• messy
• chaotic
• patchwork
• promiscuous
• indiscriminate
• kitchen-sink
• raggle-taggle
• ragtag
• various
• multifarious
• magpie
• littered
• disparate
• combined
• sundry
• divergent
• jumbled
• piebald
• manifold
• disheveled
• cluttered
• multiplex
• composite
• blended
• muddled
• disordered
• multiple
• myriad
• mingled
• confused
• amalgamated
• disarranged
• intermingled
• hybrid
• commingled
• conglomerate
• incorporated
• intermixed
• fused
• disarrayed
• merged
• unsorted
• unclassified
• messed
• commixed
• farraginous
• conglomerated

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• homogeneous
• uniform
• same
• identical
• like
• individual
• monolithic
• distinctive
• distinct
• separate
• alike

2

as in colorful

marked by a variety of usually vivid colors

a tropical bird with motley plumage

Synonyms & Similar Words

• colorful
• colored
• varied
• various
• rainbow
• varicolored
• vibrant
• striped
• variegated
• kaleidoscopic
• multicolored
• brilliant
• multihued
• prismatic
• polychromatic
• chromatic
• bright
• polychrome
• dotted
• brave
• gaudy
• iridescent
• garish
• showy
• spotted
• plaid
• loud
• checkered
• opalescent
• speckled
• patterned
• flashy
• flecked
• mottled
• dappled
• plaided
• marbled
• pied
• splashy
• specked
• striated
• banded
• gay
• streaked
• barred
• tricolor
• brindled
• pinto
• piebald
• trichromatic
• dichromatic
• parti-color
• bicolored
• two-toned
• two-tone
• bichrome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• colorless
• achromatic
• solid
• faded
• gray
• monochromatic
• pale
• bleached
• pallid
• neutral
• dull
• faint
• monotone
• washed-out
• monochromic
• self-colored
• decolorized
• unbrilliant

motley

2 of 2

noun

1

as in fool

a person formerly kept in a royal or noble household to amuse with jests and pranks

the motleys with their colorful outfits

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fool
• clown
• harlequin
• jester
• joker
• madcap
• comedian
• droll
• zany
• buffoon
• comic
• wag
• jokester
• cutup
• comedienne
• vice
• mime
• merry-andrew
• mummer

2

as in assortment

an unorganized collection or mixture of various things

a motley of old junk stored in the attic

Synonyms & Similar Words

• assortment
• jumble
• medley
• variety
• collage
• mélange
• hodgepodge
• ragbag
• menagerie
• hotchpotch
• mishmash
• amalgam
• smorgasbord
• patchwork
• blend
• litter
• gallimaufry
• miscellany
• potpourri
• miscellanea
• jungle
• pastiche
• farrago
• agglomeration
• salad
• shuffle
• montage
• salmagundi
• clutter
• scramble
• stew
• agglomerate
• hash
• olio
• gumbo
• tangle
• ragout
• rummage
• jambalaya
• welter
• mixed bag
• combination
• botch
• grab bag
• accumulation
• alphabet soup
• omnium-gatherum
• crazy quilt
• conglomeration
• muddle
• tumble
• patchwork quilt
• conglomerate
• aggregation
• macédoine
• olla podrida
• detritus
• aggregate
• notions
• sundries
• composite
• mess
• fusion
• oddments
• compound
• chaos
• intermixture
• commixture
• disarray
• odds and ends
• alloy
• catchall
• admixture
• disarrangement
• mix-up
• disorder
• snarl
• imbroglio
• morass
• confusion
• shambles
• bollix
• dog's breakfast
• knot

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of motley

Adjective

The Paper centered on Michael Keaton — in his third film with Howard — as Henry Hackett, metro editor of the New York Sun, who navigates a motley roster of colleagues, including his nemesis in managing editor Alicia Clark (Glenn Close), over a 24-hour period to get that day’s edition to newsstands. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 10 May 2026

The motley mix of guests is not as formal; guests are here on vacation, wearing Birkenstocks and comfortable walking shoes in warmer weather, along with light sweaters and jeans during the cooler months (during Prague’s frigid winter, the hotel has very low occupancy). — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Apr. 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

Kaan kaan wu, with its motley of melds, is where these two tiles from different suits can be used in a clean-sweeping hand. — Rudy Lee, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2023

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!