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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of motley
Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
Investigators soon determined, and so did the courts, that a motley group of arsonists had intentionally torched the factory, seemingly for the insurance money.
—Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2025
Esha Chhabra, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2022
His tall, broad-shouldered hunchback stomps around the court in the multi-colored motley teasing his master and his henchmen with seeming good-natured gaiety.
—Bill Hirschman, sun-sentinel.com, 14 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for motley
Adjective
Pregnant right whales migrate southward in the Atlantic Ocean to the waters off the Florida and Georgia coasts each winter to give birth, often loosely accompanied by a motley assortment that includes adult males and females as well as juveniles.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
Investigators soon determined, and so did the courts, that a motley group of arsonists had intentionally torched the factory, seemingly for the insurance money.
—Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2025
Noun
With a total team of 25 today, Schaper is trying to juggle a motley of distribution channels, each with their own unique needs and processes.
—Esha Chhabra, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2022
His tall, broad-shouldered hunchback stomps around the court in the multi-colored motley teasing his master and his henchmen with seeming good-natured gaiety.
—Bill Hirschman, sun-sentinel.com, 14 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for motley
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motley
Adjective
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The eclectic blend of architectural styles that fill up Mexico City's Roma Norte neighborhood, along with its buzzy nightlife, art galleries, and bohemian coffee shops, has transformed it into one of the city's most beloved hangout areas, outside of the Centro Histórico.—
Taylor McIntyre,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2025
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Other major assets include a car wash co-owned by Bryon, their home and land, and an eclectic mix of Noem’s pensions, multiple cash and investment accounts, livestock and farming equipment and a loan to their 28-year-old daughter’s yoga studio.—
Kyle Khan-Mullins,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
Adjective
-
Two panoramic terraces look out onto Positano and the sea, framed by leafy plants, colorful throw pillows and flapping curtains that add a touch of mystic to the whole ambiance.—
Livia Hengel,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
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The lavish residence, a boxy, stark white contemporary jazzed up with a colorful lighting scheme, stands out among its Mediterranean Revival neighbors.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
1 June 2025
Noun
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Elves, insectoids, reptilians, aliens, gods, and clowns are all common.—
Andy Greenberg,
Wired News,
22 May 2025
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Fans can also look forward to performances by the iconic Silver Spurs Quadrille, the adorable antics of kids competing in Mutton Bustin’, and plenty of laughs courtesy of the ever-entertaining rodeo clowns.—
Joe Rassel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 May 2025
Noun
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And yet, even with all of the traditional evening wear in the mix, this year’s assortment of fashions still felt entirely modern—and at times, quite unexpected too.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
25 May 2025
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This process involves selecting a base hat and embellishing it with various elements like faux flowers, crinoline, and an assortment of feathers, resulting in an elaborate and unique creation perfect for prestigious occasions.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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Nike’s rollout of Air Max 95 OG Big Bubble colorways has been varied.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
24 May 2025
-
Gable Kahn masterfully tackles the constant and varied misogyny women face in society head-on, while also portraying a real, beautifully flawed MC.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
People.com,
24 May 2025
Noun
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These could be people that play Devil’s advocate or, like Shakespeare’s fools, challenge ideas and thinking.—
George Bradt,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
-
Flecks of mica and pyrite and who knows what, but only fools and greenhorns mistake it for gold.—
John Archibald,
Southern Living,
25 May 2025
Noun
-
In jumbles of old stones that, to me, are barely legible as the remains of buildings, Cocon López could see the entire timeline of old Aké and how later people interacted with and repurposed what came before.—
Lizzie Wade,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 May 2025
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Instead, voters themselves are jumbles of competing and sometimes contradictory interests.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Memorial Day was something of a deadline to my mother, grandmother and assorted relatives to complete one last grand cleaning campaign before the heat arrived and leaving for the beach.—
Jacques Kelly,
Baltimore Sun,
24 May 2025
-
On top of this, the House Ways and Means Committee has thrown a potpourri of assorted other tax cuts: through 2028, for instance, tips, overtime income, and car loan interests would be tax-free, and senior citizens would get bigger standard deductions.—
Dylan Matthews,
Vox,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Motley.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motley. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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