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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of motley
Marek Garztecki, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2015
In the gut’s lining resides a virtual embassy of immune cells that remain in an ever-vigilant state surveying the motley stream of microbial and nutritional antigens passing through your gut.
—Christopher Damman, The Conversation, 14 June 2024
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
The United Left, a motley collection of postcommunist leftovers, didn’t manage to win even a single seat, signaling its terminal demise.
—Marek Garztecki, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2015
In the gut’s lining resides a virtual embassy of immune cells that remain in an ever-vigilant state surveying the motley stream of microbial and nutritional antigens passing through your gut.
—Christopher Damman, The Conversation, 14 June 2024
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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Forget the stiff, polished high-fashion boutiques — Mima feels like stepping into the eclectic world of your coolest, most unpredictable friend.WWD, WWD, 11 Dec. 2024
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Known for his eclectic tastes and investments, he is listed among the ARTnews Top 200 collectors, alongside his wife, Beyoncé.Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Accessories Bring It All Together Accessories, like scarves, hats, footwear, colorful tights, bold boots, and gloves, don’t have to be plainly functional.Andrea Bossi, Essence, 10 Dec. 2024
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The Pioneer Woman launched bakeware, mugs, serving platters, and more with Drummond’s signature colorful aesthetic and bold patterns.Shea Simmons, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The clowns there, contributed by donors worldwide, are not for sale.Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024
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The parade’s 98th year was the largest yet, with more than 5,000 volunteers, 17 character balloons, 22 floats, 15 heritage and novelty balloons, more than 700 clowns, 11 marching bands and 10 performance groups.Violet Goldstone, WWD, 30 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Washington had Alex Smith at the end of his career before going through an assortment of mediocre starters in Taylor Heinicke, Carson Wentz and Sam Howell.DJ Siddiqi, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
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In recent weeks, both CTU and the current board of six Johnson appointees have pressured Martinez to resolve the contract — a demand that’s prompted pushback among an assortment of stakeholders.Sarah Macaraeg, Chicago Tribune, 14 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The public reaction has been complex and varied, reflecting the deep political, social, and generational divides in South Korea.Joohee Cho, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2024
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Due to property's varied slope, the building's height would not exceed 85 feet, or five stories not including lower levels, according to the architectural plans.Bridget Fogarty, Journal Sentinel, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Market timing is a risky game and often a fool’s errand.Ron Insana, CNBC, 9 Dec. 2024
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Alexander felt that he had been played the fool — made to love a baby who wasn’t his to raise.Julia Whelan Krish Seenivasan Lance Neal, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Owners’ names now read like jumbles of computer code, retirement homes or rock bands: Silver Sage, Dream Homes, Blue Apple, P Fin VII, Wref II, 3xs2, Vivid, Straight Red Lines, TKJK, Jags Proper.Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 24 June 2024
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Think of it instead as a Rube Goldberg machine, reimagining doodles as dense jumbles of steps and if-then rules.The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2024
Adjective
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At least a week passed, Smith said, before Etienne delivered some bags of chicken and cans of fruit, string beans and assorted vegetables.Chris Quintana, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
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The project went out to assorted studios and streamers near the top of this year, with Warner Bros prevailing in a heated bidding war, in part due to its commitment to a theatrical run.Justin Kroll, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near motley
Cite this Entry
“Motley.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motley. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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