Definition of variousnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word various different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of various are different, disparate, divergent, and diverse. While all these words mean "unlike in kind or character," various stresses the number of sorts or kinds.

tried various methods

When could different be used to replace various?

While the synonyms different and various are close in meaning, different may imply little more than separateness but it may also imply contrast or contrariness.

different foods

When is it sensible to use disparate instead of various?

The synonyms disparate and various are sometimes interchangeable, but disparate emphasizes incongruity or incompatibility.

disparate notions of freedom

When would divergent be a good substitute for various?

Although the words divergent and various have much in common, divergent implies movement away from each other and unlikelihood of ultimate meeting or reconciliation.

went on to pursue divergent careers

When is diverse a more appropriate choice than various?

In some situations, the words diverse and various are roughly equivalent. However, diverse implies both distinctness and marked contrast.

such diverse interests as dancing and football

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 various Buyers get a healthy range of customization options too, including different stripes, matte or gloss finishes, and various wheel and leather colors. New Atlas, 28 Jan. 2026 The full special includes Alex Cooper visiting Rosé in Asia for a sit-down interview that takes them to various locations, including a cafe in Seoul, a traditional Pocha lunch, Rosé’s recording studio (reinvented as a Call Her Daddy set), a karaoke stall and a lounge in Tokyo. Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026 Queen Camilla wears various buckle pumps from designers like Eliot Zed and Roger Vivier. Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 28 Jan. 2026 Those advancements have brought scientists closer to discovering biological markers for various disorders. Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR, 28 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for various
Recent Examples of Synonyms for various
Adjective
  • Sparkling Orange Nº1, a low-intervention, organic orange (orange colored due to skin contact, no oranges used) bubbly from Alsace that pops with orange peel and juicy peach, then drifts into jasmine, herbs, and gentle spice.
    Lanee Lee, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Run the cycle again, warm for colored towels and hot for white towels.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 25 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • For me, folklore started right back at school, when our junior headmaster used to sit and tell us tall colorful tales, oral Cumbrian legends and ghost stories, which could be augmented and added to in the telling.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
  • In practice, that meant something similar to his past records—fragments of human voices breaking through collages of tape loops and glitchy errata, warmed by colorful sequences of alien synth work.
    Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The result is a category that’s far more varied than many drinkers realize, ranging from classic rye-forward blends to dessert-style cream whiskies to smoky single malts coming out of British Columbia.
    Emily Price, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • And over the past few years, the options for spending a night on the rails in the lap of luxury have grown more varied (though, admittedly, pricey) than ever—from Peru to Penang, and Cornwall to Cape Town, the possibilities are endless.
    Liam Hess, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Various.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/various. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on various

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