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
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 7 Mar. 2025
Those make up a motley assortment, including Amazon user reviews, the publication BroadwayWorld, and the progressive site Daily Kos.
—Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 4 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
Daisy, and a motley group of co-workers, toil in a cottage industry of agencies that evaluate harmful and offensive pictures and videos uploaded to social media.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 7 Mar. 2025
Those make up a motley assortment, including Amazon user reviews, the publication BroadwayWorld, and the progressive site Daily Kos.
—Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 4 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
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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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Savor fresh seafood and waterfront views at area restaurants, enjoy craft beer at local breweries, and shop locally at The District, a colorful collection of shops and restaurants.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
1 June 2025
Noun
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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,
28 May 2025
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His wife, Susan, a sweet woman with short grey hair, worked as a dental hygienist and performed as a clown named Jubilee at hospitals, nursing homes, parties — even the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.—
Jennifer Berry Hawes,
ProPublica,
19 May 2025
Noun
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Fine Mess Bakery offers an assortment of beautiful pastries and, on weekends, excellent bread, while Isabel’s Espresso has coffee lovers covered.—
Leslie Kelly,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
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Walmart stores have an assortment of over 150,000 items in a location.—
Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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While a small study found that bananas may reduce flavanol absorption, experts say the impact is minor in the context of a varied, balanced diet.—
Stephanie Brown,
Verywell Health,
5 June 2025
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The swatting varied but mostly included threats to destroy buildings and kill or injure people, and the threats targeted individuals with large social media presences whom Szabo thought may react publicly, according to court documents.—
Natalie Demaree,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2025
Noun
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Tobias is Flashlight’s court fool, a source of chaos, comedy, and pathos.—
Lily Meyer,
The Atlantic,
3 June 2025
-
Camp offered sanctuary, a mode of performance that didn’t suffer hypocritical fools gladly.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 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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Shot in slow motion from overhead, the sequence features a bandaged and bloodied Korda eating, reading, and smoking in his bath as assorted nurses and household staff flit around him as if in a ballet.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
6 June 2025
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The painting of a colorful bouquet of assorted flowers is on the building of Schmidt Design Group, a landscape architecture and planning firm, at 1310 Rosecrans St. The completion of the mural was celebrated May 28 with a community reception.—
Madison Beveridge,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Motley.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motley. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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