motley 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmät-lē How to pronounce motley (audio)
Definition of motleynext
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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of motley
Adjective
The subtitle for the game is Beyond Dreams and deals with a protagonist (shown above) who is plagued by strange visions in his sleep, with what looks like a motley bunch of companions. — Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026 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
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 See All Example Sentences for motley
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motley
  1. eclectic
  2. colorful
  3. fool
  4. assortment
  5. varied
  6. colored
  7. clown
  8. jumble
Adjective
  • What appealed to the couple was Vanessa’s eclectic taste, which mirrored their own wide-reaching trove of art and furniture.
    — Juliet Izon, Architectural Digest, 12 Aug. 2026
  • One was just trying to be as eclectic as possible to showcase London, which is like a character in the show.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of eclectic
Adjective
  • The beach and hillsides around it have a long and colorful history.
    — Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The British broadcaster has done away with the graphic, colorful eye logo and replaced it with a more realistic eye as the new image for the reality TV competition.
    — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of colorful
Noun
  • Pyrite, commonly known as fool’s gold, is an unusual semiconductor.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
  • There’s a version of this character that’s just the fool, and you’re disconnected from him, but Matthew takes you on a journey with this character.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of fool
Noun
  • The core leather goods assortment was a standout, with average unit retail (AUR) — the average selling price of an item in a period — rising into the mid-teens as units decreased by low double digits.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Plus, new options like Jolly Rancher Gummies Trickies Minis and a Reese’s Sweet & Salty assortment will be on shelves for the first time.
    — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of assortment
Adjective
  • The varied multi-pool complex with a firepit anchors the property with appealing amenities for every age.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Its 1,300-plus acres encompass hardwood forests, native grasslands, mature pecan groves, and seven miles of trails that wind through the varied terrain.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of varied
Adjective
  • Pay attention to ordinary pleasures, like a warm bed on a cold night, a good cup of coffee, or a brightly colored bird outside the window.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Oyster shells—colored brown, gray, or white externally—have the roughest texture of the three bivalves.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of colored
Noun
  • There’s deeply brutal local lore, endless cornfields and teenagers trying to escape a killer clown.
    — Alaina Urquhart, PEOPLE, 11 Aug. 2026
  • An Illinois teen has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly committing a deadly stabbing attack while dressed in a clown outfit.
    — Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of clown
Noun
  • Arches and natural bridges sweep like buttresses from jumbles of rock, giving this landscape a mystical, cathedral-like quality.
    — Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Macaroons are chewy jumbles of coconut bound together with egg whites and sweetened condensed milk.
    — Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of jumble

Browse Nearby Words

motivity
motley
motleys
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Cite this Entry

“Motley.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motley. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of motley for Spanish Speakers

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