as in versatile
able to do many different kinds of things
a protean actor who is equally comfortable with light comedy and serious drama
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Recent Examples of protean
His beliefs and artistic inclinations were protean and often contradictory.
—
Vince Passaro, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Davis spent his career sounding the depths of his protean creativity.
—Helena Alonso Paisley, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2025
Adding to the otherworldly ambience is the shifting jazz-folk score by Mary Komasa and Antoni Łazarkiewicz, which, like our hero, is similarly protean in nature.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025
As the party’s protean policy evolves, Smith and his colleagues are tasked with systematically destroying any historical records that conflict with the current version of history.
—Laura Beers, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for protean
Vince Passaro, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Davis spent his career sounding the depths of his protean creativity.
—Helena Alonso Paisley, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2025
Adding to the otherworldly ambience is the shifting jazz-folk score by Mary Komasa and Antoni Łazarkiewicz, which, like our hero, is similarly protean in nature.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025
As the party’s protean policy evolves, Smith and his colleagues are tasked with systematically destroying any historical records that conflict with the current version of history.
—Laura Beers, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for protean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protean
Adjective
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Austin Corbett, the Carolina Panthers’ versatile offensive lineman, had a bye week Sunday not all that different from one that a serious NFL fan would have.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Dec. 2025
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Boasting such a versatile and varied profile, this flavor of the year is great for chefs who are looking for a new way to give their dishes bursts of unusual, combined flavors.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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The partnership aims to narrow the gap between human and robotic dexterity, enabling more adaptable, productive and safer automation systems for industrial environments.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
16 June 2026
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Through it all, Sirianni has been adaptable, demonstrating a willingness to make big changes on the fly.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protean. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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