as in colored
marked by a variety of usually vivid colors
polychrome pottery featuring designs from the American Southwest
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Recent Examples of polychrome
Ryan Craggs, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
In Morrisania, Alexander Gorlin’s polychrome supportive-housing center, El Borinquen, exudes a salsa vibe in a Corbusian frame.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 28 Jan. 2026
Its chandeliers are made of handblown Murano glass, its bathrooms of polychrome Italian marble.
—Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 30 June 2025
Coat of black silk satin brocaded with polychrome silk thread in a pattern of tulips; belt of black silk satin; blouse of white silk-cotton batiste; skirt of beige cotton-linen twill.
—Irene Kim, Vogue, 28 June 2024
In the artist Eddie Martinez’s dense, polychrome paintings, each mark is haunted by the gesture that made it and each color seems to demand its own verb: The thick gray drips; a bright red streak declares; a daub of blue hesitates.
—Phoebe Chen, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2023
La Grande Dame is made of carved and polychrome wood that has been painted with imagery alluding to a rich tapestry of cultural references, including ancient folklore, witchcraft, and an Egyptian creation myth.
—Karen K. Ho, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Adjective
Now, L'Occitane amenities and Nason Moretti glassware share space with polychrome wood ceilings that have watched over this corner of old Hispalis for 500 years.
—Ryan Craggs, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
In Morrisania, Alexander Gorlin’s polychrome supportive-housing center, El Borinquen, exudes a salsa vibe in a Corbusian frame.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 28 Jan. 2026
Its chandeliers are made of handblown Murano glass, its bathrooms of polychrome Italian marble.
—Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 30 June 2025
Coat of black silk satin brocaded with polychrome silk thread in a pattern of tulips; belt of black silk satin; blouse of white silk-cotton batiste; skirt of beige cotton-linen twill.
—Irene Kim, Vogue, 28 June 2024
In the artist Eddie Martinez’s dense, polychrome paintings, each mark is haunted by the gesture that made it and each color seems to demand its own verb: The thick gray drips; a bright red streak declares; a daub of blue hesitates.
—Phoebe Chen, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2023
La Grande Dame is made of carved and polychrome wood that has been painted with imagery alluding to a rich tapestry of cultural references, including ancient folklore, witchcraft, and an Egyptian creation myth.
—Karen K. Ho, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polychrome
Adjective
-
People gathered at Navy Pier on Saturday to celebrate the Hindu spring tradition of Holi, also known as the festival of colors, with music, dance, and by throwing and decorating each other with colored powder.—
Chris Sweda,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
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Sorting blocks into different colored buckets.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The marbling effect of this manicure aggregates the polish at the tip of each nail, but diffuses the border of the nail tips and pulls the color down towards the base in a watercolor style.—
Sunnah Rasheed,
InStyle,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Prime rib is a desirable cut of beef, known for its rich flavor and marbling from fat.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The latter is popular with professionals for its colorful adjuster shades—liquid pigments in unnatural colors that can alter the tone of your base.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
11 Mar. 2026
-
As a twist on a traditional ambrosia salad, this colorful punch brings in all the same flavors with orange juice, pineapple juice, coconut water, and maraschino cherries, plus more citrus and mint to garnish.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But Tariq’s body was already cold, and his skin was mottled.—
Ben Taub,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Shiny and dark evergreen foliage is held aloft on strong, arching stems mottled with purple flecks.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
21 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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The Los Angeles Metro Lost & Found office off Pasadena Avenue in Montecito Heights has items as varied as cellphones and blowtorches that have been found by Metro staff or security guards on buses and rail lines.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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Sabalenka played an airtight first set, displaying complete mastery over the varied aspects of her game, and zipped to a 3-1 lead.—
Ava Wallace,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In my two-level penthouse suite, for example, quietly floral wallpaper, gray-velvet sofas and armchairs, and patterned cream tiles with gold accents in the bathrooms made for a sophisticated, yet welcoming space.—
Megan Spurrell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Jan. 2026
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The institutions studied by political scientists do not exist outside ideology but are simply patterned instances of ideology—and if ideology changes drastically enough, the institutions change with it.—
Jason Blakely,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Adept anglers can fly-fish for them across the varied terrain of the property’s creeks or patrol the marshy perimeters its six Class A lakes for the coveted catch, as well as fellow trout—namely rainbow, brown, and brook–that often exceed 20 inches.—
Alexandra Kirkman,
Robb Report,
29 May 2025
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Suspended from the fashionable wooden arch are a teething ring, crinkly rainbow, rattle, mirror, and plush moon to promote hand-eye coordination.—
Pamela Brill,
Parents,
24 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Now 71, Funderburgh still rocks a pompadour — albeit smaller and streaked with silver — that once inspired former bandmate Mike Judge to sketch Beavis.—
Thor Christensen,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
At the San Francisco Macworld Expo in January 1998, only one year into the job, Jobs was nearly unrecognizable in his new mustache and full beard, streaked with gray.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Polychrome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polychrome. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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