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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
-
Think eclectic, travel-ready, and full of stories to tell for years to come.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
27 June 2025
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With producers like Justin Tranter, Andrew Watt, and John Ryan in the mix, BEAUTIFUL CHAOS balances shimmering production with emotional grit, offering an eclectic yet cohesive soundscape.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Other varieties provide additional design elements such as interesting bark, colorful fruits, and fabulous fall foliage to enhance the garden all year long.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
27 June 2025
-
The film is set in the fictional Mongibello, which Highsmith based on the resort towns along the Amalfi Coast, and unlike nearly all of the previous decade’s noir films, Purple Noon presents its seaside setting in colorful daytime to dazzling visual effect.—
Erik Morse,
Vogue,
26 June 2025
Noun
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President Trump has repeatedly called Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell stupid, terrible, a fool, and referred to him as a person of average mentality.—
Mike Patton,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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That fool’s from my family’s hometown over there in Mexico.—
Carlos De Loera,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2025
Noun
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The challenge right now is to synchronize and systematize data collection and reporting such that meeting the current assortment of local, national and international requirements does not create an undue strain on the core business or leave that business open to risk of non-compliance.—
Mary Foley,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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The assortment was developed in tandem with the Nordstrom team with Shanker carefully considering which of her brands made sense to showcase in a new larger setting.—
Thomas Waller,
Footwear News,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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The post was upvoted by over 5,200 users and attracted over 400 commenters with varied reactions.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2025
-
Other platforms pursue varied approaches within this framework.—
Roomy Khan,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Noun
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Also, this was not a good week for billionaires as a socialist Muslim won a long-shot victory in the NYC Democratic primary, partly on the promise to raise taxes among the highest income earners, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos starred in a clown show wedding in Venice.—
Paul Bedard,
The Washington Examiner,
28 June 2025
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Ayanna Pressley, another blow-in-drifter (from Chicago), pole vaulted from the City Council clown show to the U.S. House.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
25 June 2025
Noun
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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
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The Roomba’s ability to clean across the assorted rugs without getting stuck has been a big standout, according to Arzbaecher, and her favorite add-on is the app that controls the vacuum.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
26 June 2025
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The low neck blazer with golden buttons was also worn with a chain necklace with assorted crosses, while a pin on the upper crust of his jacket took center stage.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Motley.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motley. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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