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
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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
Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026
The current membership of the board is a motley mix.
—Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 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
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
The current membership of the board is a motley mix.
—Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 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
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But, rewatching the film 20 years later (March 31 was the actual anniversary), Gunn's fingerprints are unmistakable, from the highly quotable dialogue to the quirky soundtrack lifted from the outer reaches of Gunn's eclectic music collection.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
1 May 2026
-
Choose from a dozen colorways to best suit her style, whether minimal and sleek or eclectic and curated.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Turner, a colorful figure with a Southern drawl and rail-thin mustache, had pronounced views himself, often (though not exclusively) of a liberal bent.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
6 May 2026
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Create a colorful and energetic ‘Bright Bunch’ bouquet using Suncredible® Yellow II Helianthus, Truffula™ Pink Gomphrena, and Sunstar® Lavender Pentas.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Post-draft outlook Don’t let the draft-weekend optimism fool you — the Cardinals have a long road ahead.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
There is an old saying that people who represent themselves in court effectively have a fool for a lawyer.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The company plans to overhaul about 75% of its home assortment by June, with a bedding refresh in the fall and kitchen and dining updates set for 2027.—
Star Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
It’s been partners with Jordan Brand since 2018, resulting in yearly kits and a robust assortment of sneakers.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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Most important, camouflage needed to function well at different times of day, in varied lighting and changing weather conditions.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
5 May 2026
-
Boyne Mountain Resort is a destination in its own right, offering activities as varied as ziplining, e-biking, hiking, and scenic chairlift rides.—
Taryn Shorr-Mckee,
Midwest Living,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Nor any pebble clattering down the medieval stones, plinking into the tea- colored water.—
Ellen Bass,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Disney history fans know that the Rainbow Caverns Mine Train was a former attraction at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, where colored pools and waterfalls could be seen among the cave formations.—
Megan duBois,
Southern Living,
4 May 2026
Noun
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There’s some Streisand, too, and a big dose of Andrea Martin, specifically Martin’s signature SCTV character Edith Prickley, that bawdy, gawdy ham with all the bravado of a Catskills clown.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2026
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Once completed, the $5 million acquisition will ensure the theater has a permanent home, a place where skateboarding clowns and leek-haired onions can continue to frolic and dance for decades to come.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 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
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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 8 May. 2026.
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