patchwork 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of patchworknext
as in eclectic
consisting of many things of different sorts a patchwork collection of antiques from different periods

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

patchwork

2 of 2

noun

ˈpach-ˌwərk How to pronounce patchwork (audio)
as in jumble
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things the state's patchwork of outdated laws regulating commercial activity on Sundays

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 patchwork
Noun
Their presentations revealed a patchwork of efforts, with municipalities and organizations moving ahead while seeking clearer coordination and financial commitments. — Jane Horowitz, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 State lawmakers have already begun to pass a patchwork of laws that either expand or rein in how AI can be used in health care. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 14 Oct. 2026 Instead, oversight falls to states, creating what some call a patchwork of rules that range from strict regulations to minimal oversight. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 Incremental patchwork fixes have failed for over fifty years. — Wcco Staff, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for patchwork
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patchwork
  1. eclectic
  2. jumble
  3. varied
  4. medley
  5. mixed
  6. variety
  7. assorted
  8. assortment
Adjective
  • His eclectic back catalog is more like a pick’n’mix of Swedish candy, filled with syrupy electro-pop and wonky and soulful house.
    — Harry Thorfinn-George, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Food and drink Café Libre, next to the eclectic and cozy lobby, is a space designed to make guests and visitors feel right at home.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of eclectic
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
Adjective
  • Even after the engines are removed, firms are looking for parts as varied as landing gear and antennae to sell.
    — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
  • In the ads analyzed by Noticias Telemundo, the form and content indicating it was done with AI varied; there were differences ranging from the text size to the wording.
    — Anagilmara Vílchez, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of varied
Noun
  • Waiters walked around the room serving bowls of pasta with a medley of sauces.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • After an opening medley that spans New Orleans jazz and bounce, the record’s signposts grow increasingly fuzzy.
    — Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of medley
Adjective
  • The gallery’s upcoming exhibition of paintings, sculpture and mixed media works by Spanish artist Manolo Valdés brings another perspective to the district; his sculpture is also part of the outdoor environment.
    — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • However, the actual performance for input lag is a little mixed.
    — M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of mixed
Noun
  • In an exclusive Vogue Business survey published in 2025, our data revealed that 67% of consumers are more likely to buy from fashion brands that show a variety of body sizes in their marketing.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Disney offered creators a wide variety of future opportunities, including set visits, press junkets and red carpet interviews with talent.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of variety
Adjective
  • For decades, Hollywood actor Danny Trejo’s bread and butter was playing gangsters, prison inmates and other assorted criminals.
    — Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The Japanese rice bowl combines soboro (そぼろ)—ground meat, fish, or eggs cooked into fine crumbles—with steamed short-grain rice and assorted toppings.
    — Tadashi Ono & Harris Salat, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of assorted
Noun
  • Developed with creative chairman Reed Krakoff and design teams in New York and Bali, the assortment splices the siblings’ contrasting aesthetics with John Hardy’s longstanding tradition of handcraft.
    — Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Now, a deeper look suggests a much broader assortment of material from the outside world — silica, metals, soot and other debris — is getting through.
    — Ariana Eunjung Cha, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of assortment

Phrases Containing patchwork

Browse Nearby Words

patch (together)
patchwork
patchwork quilt
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Patchwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patchwork. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on patchwork

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about patchwork

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of disparate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All