mishmash

noun

mish·​mash ˈmish-ˌmash 

-ˌmäsh

: hodgepodge, jumble

Synonyms

• agglomerate
• agglomeration
• alphabet soup
• assortment
• botch
• clutter
• collage
• crazy quilt
• farrago
• gallimaufry
• grab bag
• gumbo
• hash
• hodgepodge
• hotchpotch
• jambalaya
• jumble
• jungle
• litter
• macédoine
• medley
• mélange
• menagerie
• miscellanea
• miscellany
• mixed bag
• montage
• motley
• muddle
• olio
• olla podrida
• omnium-gatherum
• pastiche
• patchwork
• patchwork quilt
• potpourri
• ragbag
• ragout
• rummage
• salad
• salmagundi
• scramble
• shuffle
• smorgasbord
• stew
• tumble
• variety
• welter

Examples of mishmash in a Sentence

the painting was just a mishmash of colors and abstract shapes as far as we could tell

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite its mishmash design, the show is fun and finely tuned, and its structure of building each episode towards a classic game of Deal or No Deal is kind of ingenious. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2025

So, not quite a history lesson and not quite a rom-com and certainly not an epic, the movie is a mild but pleasant mishmash of genres held together by the sheer charisma of Channing Tatum and Scarlett Johansson, two actors who seem unexpectedly well suited to each other’s energies. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 12 July 2024

The 2023 Commanders, however, went through a mishmash of centers despite starting inexperienced quarterback Sam Howell. —Ben Standig, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025

Like many great adaptations, then, Eggers' version is a mishmash of inspirations coming together to create a bloody great concoction. —Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 25 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English & Yiddish; Middle English mysse masche, perhaps reduplication of mash mash; Yiddish mish-mash, perhaps reduplication of mishn to mix

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mishmash

noun

mish·​mash ˈmish-ˌmash 

-ˌmäsh

: hodgepodge, jumble