as in rhetorical
full of fine words and fancy expressions
an overwritten novel with far too many purple patches
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of purple
Thanks to a new TikTok hazy purple-blue filter inspired by the year, 2016 is suddenly all the rage.
—
Meg Walters, Glamour, 14 Jan. 2026
Decked out in a purple velour tracksuit, layered necklaces, a tattered blonde wig, and a tiara, Jimmy is the cult leader to a small, depraved group of satanists who claim to be the son of the Devil himself.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Jan. 2026
The restaurant also serves bowls, salads and sides like chicken karaage and tempura purple yam.
—Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
Berries Berries like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are teeming with anthocyanins, or plant pigments that give fruits and vegetables their purple-red color.
—Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for purple
Meg Walters, Glamour, 14 Jan. 2026
Decked out in a purple velour tracksuit, layered necklaces, a tattered blonde wig, and a tiara, Jimmy is the cult leader to a small, depraved group of satanists who claim to be the son of the Devil himself.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Jan. 2026
The restaurant also serves bowls, salads and sides like chicken karaage and tempura purple yam.
—Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
Berries Berries like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are teeming with anthocyanins, or plant pigments that give fruits and vegetables their purple-red color.
—Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for purple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purple
Adjective
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The Four Freedoms Roosevelt named were not rhetorical ornaments offered as inspiration so much as a diagnosis.—
Philip Martin,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
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Most Venezuelans who are smart recognize that this is a rhetorical device.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Every California governor since Earl Warren back in World War II had annually paraded into the ornate 1800s-decor Assembly chamber to address a joint session of the Legislature in what was always the most festive occasion of the year in the state Capitol.—
George Skelton,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
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The service is a dream, as are the common spaces—handwoven tapestries by Portuguese artist José Sobral de Almada Negreiros hang throughout, with ornate furnishings and happy wallpaper in a rich yellow.—
Charlie Hobbs,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purple. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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