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
Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2025
The film takes place in today’s world as Detective Shay Williams (Union) and her partner Galpin (Colter) become trapped inside the Ursuline Convent with a motley group (including Castillo, Frewer and Lennon) when the Casket Girls escape from their attic prison for the first time in over 300 years.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 26 Feb. 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
Investigators soon determined, and so did the courts, that a motley group of arsonists had intentionally torched the factory, seemingly for the insurance money.
—Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2025
The film takes place in today’s world as Detective Shay Williams (Union) and her partner Galpin (Colter) become trapped inside the Ursuline Convent with a motley group (including Castillo, Frewer and Lennon) when the Casket Girls escape from their attic prison for the first time in over 300 years.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 26 Feb. 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
-
At your literal doorstep was a veritable world capital of social connection, retail nirvana and eclectic dining opportunities.—
David Petitti,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
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Snag a seat underneath a canopy of palm fronds, where you’ll be surrounded by eclectic art and the sound of live music.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The Scuderia Ferrari driver’s bold, colorful, and whimsical looks have garnered much attention in the style world and earned him the title of ‘champion of style’ as well.—
Daisy Shaw-Ellis,
Vogue,
25 Apr. 2025
-
That colorful language is shared by Chris Goulet, managing partner of Birdsong Brewing.—
Timothy DePeugh,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
In real time, the audience, the queens watching, and perhaps Suzie herself all learn that Suzie has a knack for sexiness onstage, even though she’s dressed as a clown.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
12 Apr. 2025
-
Among the mass-shooting victims is a bloodied clown who was performing at the festival.—
James Poniewozik,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The winners are sure to represent a stunning assortment of books that have topped best-seller and year-end lists.—
Lorraine Berry,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Trump has hosted an eclectic assortment of popular athletes, conservative celebrities and other notable figures at the White House since returning to office in January.—
Elizabeth Crisp,
The Hill,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
After three or four sessions, your character has much more move variety, and items and weapons are more useful and varied.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 Apr. 2025
-
To make sense of the recurring post-hurricane peaks, Cabrera and colleagues analyzed how butterfly numbers varied with precipitation, wind speed, temperature and other meteorological variables.—
Marina Wang,
Smithsonian Magazine,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
True leaders are known for building things, fools for destroying them.—
Tom Zirpoli,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Apr. 2025
-
The mix of Greek mythology, robots and mechanical flying scorpions is a little all over the place, but my son was plenty entertained by Scooby and Shaggy’s ability to act like bumbling fools one minute and brave heroes the next.—
Dina Gachman,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Instead, voters themselves are jumbles of competing and sometimes contradictory interests.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Baker also leads the orchestra, which sounds grand — although the sound in the arts center’s Pugh Theater often left musicians, lead singers and chorus all at the same level, with actors speaking over all of it at the same time to create a sonic jumble.—
Matthew J. Palm,
Orlando Sentinel,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Sunset bites offered from 4 p.m. -6 p.m. include oysters with chili-lime mignonette, assorted crudite with peanut coconut dip, popcorn shrimp with sambal oelek, and a warm balinese lobster roll, amongst others.—
Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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Among the debris were bricks, tins of paint, stones, and other assorted rubbish.—
Arick Wierson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Motley.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motley. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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