1
as in eclectic
consisting of many things of different sorts
a ship with a motley crew of old salts, young adventurers, and shifty characters of all ages
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in colorful
marked by a variety of usually vivid colors
a tropical bird with motley plumage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in assortment
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things
a motley of old junk stored in the attic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of motley
Hannah Jocelyn, Pitchfork, 18 Mar. 2026
This motley collection of diary entries, photos, and interviews from writer, musician, and visual artist Lauren Napier (pictured above) takes readers straight into the early aughts pop punk scene.
—Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025
This made us—with all our human, mortal limitations—rather like the God of all those past centuries of belief, or should that be credulity: the God who retained and stored away everything in his motley, moveless time, in which nothing was new or old, remote or recent.
—Margaret Jull Costa, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for motley
Adjective
Masterminded by nonprofit organization War Child and produced by Brian Eno, the album brought together a motley group of big-ticket artists—Radiohead, the Chemical Brothers, the Stone Roses, Paul McCartney—and raised over a million pounds for children caught in the Bosnian war.
—Hannah Jocelyn, Pitchfork, 18 Mar. 2026
This motley collection of diary entries, photos, and interviews from writer, musician, and visual artist Lauren Napier (pictured above) takes readers straight into the early aughts pop punk scene.
—Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
Her goal is to start a women’s consciousness-raising group, and her efforts have brought together a motley, inquisitive quintet.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025
This made us—with all our human, mortal limitations—rather like the God of all those past centuries of belief, or should that be credulity: the God who retained and stored away everything in his motley, moveless time, in which nothing was new or old, remote or recent.
—Margaret Jull Costa, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for motley
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motley
Adjective
-
The approach to furniture and art is gloriously eclectic.—
Bridget Mills-Powell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 May 2026
-
That means in the community’s heart along eclectic Andy Rosse Lane, visitors are stocking up on supplies at The Island Store, grabbing coffee and ice cream at Latte Da, and sipping cocktails and munching on seafood at Keylime Bistro.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
In contrast to something like Coruscant, which feels very bustling, vibrant and colorful.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2026
-
Curated by creative director of more than five years Fausto Puglisi, the collection pivoted from Cavalli’s animal prints and colorful designs for a subdued assortment.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Trying to control such speech or sanitize any possibility of offense, disagreement, or discomfort, will be a fool’s errand in a diverse democracy.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
The king, the fool — there are so many parallels for me.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
The model releases July 10 for $130 and comes with an assortment of tennis apparel.—
Tim Newcomb,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
Though laid to rest with a rich assortment of personal items and grave goods, the presence of substances in her grave spoke to the rituals and treatment of the body after death, revealing practices afforded to the Roman elite.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Ovenbird Warblers such as the ovenbird are often difficult to spot, so learning their widely varied songs is essential to identification.—
Christopher Gangemi,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
-
Nearly a dozen fires have, together, consumed more than 26,000 acres of varied terrain in the region over the last week, in remote island chaparral as well as brushy foothills bordering neighborhoods.—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Investigators recovered video footage from a neighboring rhome that captured a dark-colored sedan matching the vehicle that was involved in previous incidents.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
-
Investigators recovered video footage from a neighboring residence that captured a dark-colored sedan matching the vehicle that was involved in previous incidents.—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
In the end, Bill Skarsgård returned as the horrifying clown Pennywise, which was always the plan from the start.—
Emily Longeretta,
Variety,
11 May 2026
-
Even a rival gave kudos — kind of — to the clown.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Arches and natural bridges sweep like buttresses from jumbles of rock, giving this landscape a mystical, cathedral-like quality.—
Madison Chapman,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Macaroons are chewy jumbles of coconut bound together with egg whites and sweetened condensed milk.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Motley.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motley. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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