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
Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Sep. 2025
Chief among them is Ullman, who, like Murphy, is somehow never fazed by the frenetic ups and downs of life at the school, and then there are the kids themselves, a motley bunch whose neuroses and camaraderie recall the psych ward in Milos Forman’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 Sep. 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
Thaksin briefly allied with Move Forward in an attempt to form a government, but reneged on that deal to instead lead a motley coalition alongside 10 establishment-leaning parties, including two directly responsible for the 2014 ouster of his sister.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Sep. 2025
Chief among them is Ullman, who, like Murphy, is somehow never fazed by the frenetic ups and downs of life at the school, and then there are the kids themselves, a motley bunch whose neuroses and camaraderie recall the psych ward in Milos Forman’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 Sep. 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
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More than 550 people attended to cheer on the eclectic group of trailblazers, stars and out-and-out icons.—
Sal Pizarro,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
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The eclectic design mixes the modern and the historic bones of the building, and the rooftop bar offers splendid views of the city.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Duran opened a colorful and fun new space in Elizabeth, accented with custom art.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Nov. 2025
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There are ski helmets and Stetsons, colorful Gortex bibs and brown cowhide chaps, floor-length fur coats and hip-length puffer jackets — and of course, ski boots and cowboy boots.—
Cari Shane,
USA Today,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The mind wants desperately to connect with a person—and fools itself into seeing one in a machine.—
Damon Beres,
The Atlantic,
5 Nov. 2025
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Since medieval times, the colorful fool—from court jesters to Shakespeare’s characters—has used playful wit to critique authority and buffoonery to whip up excitement.—
Time,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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As Spring told Fortune, Macy’s recent success—including its best quarter for sales growth in three years—is thanks to a playbook focused on less store clutter, a more focused assortment of products and brands, and more staffing in key departments such as women’s shoes and dresses.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
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Passive funds are attractive because, with their investment fees typically running ~80% lower than active funds, they’re viewed as a cheaper way to own a diverse assortment of stocks.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Several artists will compete across genre categories, and there may be no artist more varied than Turnstile.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
7 Nov. 2025
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Lost & Found In Cleveland, produced, written and directed by Marisa Guterman and Keith Gerchak, opens on about 350 screens with varied showtimes, the first film testing a new theatrical distribution and online digital marketplace called Attend developed by the Fithian Group.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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During this time, monarchs cluster together in packed colonies for warmth—in a good year, thousands of monarchs might rest on a single tree, creating a kaleidoscope of brilliantly colored wings.—
Chelsee Lowe,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Nov. 2025
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Remember, a hard freeze will still damage them, turning them mushy and off-colored.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The sibling filmmaking duo spent most of the 2010s making a colossal two-part movie adaptation of King’s 1,138-page horror opus about a shapeshifting clown who terrorizes the small town of Derry, Maine.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
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The woman dressed as a spooky ringmaster while her husband played the part of a creepy clown.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Ray’s most chaotic photograms—jumbles that push out of the frame or look like time bombs ready to explode—find echoes in his films, projected on the back walls, a show in themselves.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Motley.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motley. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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