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
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
The polychrome theme continues indoors in kaleidoscopic floor patterns, a wall tiled with the colors of every Latin American flag, and an immense mural by Aurelio del Muro and Marta Blair.
—Wes Tarca, Curbed, 12 Jan. 2023
Hudson’s Birdie shows up with suitcases full of rich-hippie clothes, including a mesmerizing polychrome swirl of a dress that nearly hypnotizes the other guests into a stupor.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 22 Nov. 2022
The study focuses on the polychrome pottery of the late classic Mayan period (600–900 CE), which frequently depicts palace scenes, ball games, hunting parties, and dances associated with human sacrifice (via decapitation).
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 15 Sep. 2022
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
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
The polychrome theme continues indoors in kaleidoscopic floor patterns, a wall tiled with the colors of every Latin American flag, and an immense mural by Aurelio del Muro and Marta Blair.
—Wes Tarca, Curbed, 12 Jan. 2023
Hudson’s Birdie shows up with suitcases full of rich-hippie clothes, including a mesmerizing polychrome swirl of a dress that nearly hypnotizes the other guests into a stupor.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 22 Nov. 2022
The study focuses on the polychrome pottery of the late classic Mayan period (600–900 CE), which frequently depicts palace scenes, ball games, hunting parties, and dances associated with human sacrifice (via decapitation).
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 15 Sep. 2022
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
-
Opt for warm-toned lights to help your space feel extra cozy, or choose multi-colored lights for a touch of nostalgic ‘90s charm.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The Smashing Machine actor wore a classic black tuxedo to the awards show, while his singer wife wore a gold-colored dress.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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McQueen’s work asks us to confront the ways that awe at beauty can be marbled with disgust.—
Leslie Jamison,
New Yorker,
22 Dec. 2025
-
The marbling method, a simple smoosh, pinch, and roll, creates bakery-worthy swirls in every cookie.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The city’s colorful outdoor food markets lay abandoned—the usual smell of ripe papaya replaced by the stench of yesterday’s scraps, rotting in the heat.—
Armando Ledezma,
New Yorker,
14 Jan. 2026
-
This colorful, high-energy show loved by preschoolers the world over is raising the curtain on its second season on January 30, 2026.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Shiny and dark evergreen foliage is held aloft on strong, arching stems mottled with purple flecks.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
21 Dec. 2025
-
The Illinois skies are mottled.—
Matthew Shen Goodman,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Most of the intrigue occurs in watching these varied human behaviors in a crisis and how quickly things shift and change when Sam’s plan is thrown off course or law enforcement intervenes in unexpected ways.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
14 Jan. 2026
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Investment ecosystems should recognize varied paths to founder readiness.—
Essence,
Essence,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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The Committee of 56 took its numbering and inspiration from the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence and patterned the prose after Thomas Jefferson’s rhetoric in the original.—
Thomas Doherty,
HollywoodReporter,
24 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
-
Little kids would go streaking.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Mark Stone had two assists, but his goals streak ended at team record-tying seven games.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Polychrome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polychrome. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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