motley

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "motley" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to mean an assortment or mixture of people or things, typically an odd or diverse one. Example sentence: The motley crew of students had every type of background, from wealthy to working class.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Here, curators had motley backgrounds: the Swiss Harald Szeemann was a theatre director; Americans Walter Hopps and Seth Siegelaub were a jazz booker and a plumber respectively.

The Guardian - Books

A few weeks later a motley group of radical rightwing European populists turned up in Crimea to watch its hastily arranged "referendum".

The Guardian - Opinion

She backs out once faced with the motley crew who responded to her Craigslist ad, but when one man doesn't seem particularly disappointed he won't get to bang her, an outraged Schumer does a volte-face and demands that they all have sex with her immediately.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Liashko is currently in the process of setting up his own volunteer battalion, which he hopes will become another addition to the motley selection of forces currently fighting for Kiev in the east.

The Guardian

Compared to this motley crew, Fico looks like the right choice for Slovakia at the moment.

The Guardian - Opinion

She failed to win an outright majority and has since governed with a hung parliament and the support of a motley crew of independents and greens.

The Guardian

Rooms from $59 plus tax to $609 , [phone], hardrockhotel.com Everyone apart from Mötley Crüe make up the motley crew listed in this hotel's guest book.

The Guardian - Travel

The next one sets sail in August around Scotland's northerly coasts and islands, as part of a four-year project to explore climate-related changes closer to home.These expeditions have yielded a motley array of works.

The Economist

On one side stands an industry that has lied more consistently about the effects of its product than any other; facing it is a motley alliance of lawyers, sanctimonious politicians and, finally, the smokers themselves, many of whom would have us believe that, despite a quarter century of negative publicity about nicotine, they had no idea that cigarettes might do them some harm.

The Economist

A motley cast of characters is grabbing power by virtue of tribal stature, religious authority or access to money or guns.

The Economist

In recent days the momentum has belonged to a group called the Right Sector, a motley confederation of football hooligans and far-right nationalists.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "motley", ensure the context clearly indicates the elements being described are indeed varied and incongruous. This strengthens the impact of your description.

Common error

Avoid using "motley" when you simply mean "diverse" without the implication of oddness or incongruity. "Diverse" is a more neutral term for varied collections.

Linguistic Context

Adjective. The primary grammatical function of "motley" is to describe a noun, indicating that it is composed of a diverse and often incongruous mix of elements. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in modifying nouns such as "crew", "collection", and "assortment."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "motley" effectively conveys the idea of a diverse, often incongruous, collection or group, as highlighted by Ludwig's examples. Predominantly used in journalistic and descriptive writing, as per Ludwig, "motley" serves to vividly characterize the heterogeneous nature of its subject. While generally neutral, its impact depends on the context, and it should be used judiciously to accurately reflect the intended connotation. Keep in mind, as the writing guidance suggests, using "motley" is not interchangeable with simply using "diverse".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mixed

Indicates a blend of different elements or qualities.

heterogeneous

Emphasizes the dissimilar nature of the components, suggesting a lack of common origin or structure.

diverse

Highlights the range of differences within a group, emphasizing inclusivity and representation.

varied

Stresses the lack of uniformity and the presence of different types within a collection.

assorted

Focuses on the variety present, implying a deliberate selection of different items.

eclectic

Implies a carefully chosen collection of diverse elements, often with a focus on style or taste.

miscellaneous

Implies a collection of items that do not fit neatly into any particular category.

hodgepodge

Suggests a jumbled or disorganized mixture of different things.

jumbled

Focuses on the disorder and lack of organization within a collection.

unmatched

Emphasizes the incompatibility and lack of coordination among the elements.

FAQs

How can I use "motley" in a sentence?

You can use "motley" to describe a group or collection that is diverse and often incongruous. For example, "The motley crew consisted of artists, engineers, and chefs."

What is a synonym for "motley"?

Synonyms for "motley" include "diverse", "varied", "assorted", and "heterogeneous". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "motley" and "diverse"?

"Motley" implies a greater degree of incongruity and oddness in the mix, while "diverse" simply means there is a variety of elements without necessarily suggesting they are mismatched or strange.

Is "motley" a positive or negative word?

"Motley" is generally neutral, but can sometimes carry a slightly negative connotation if the incongruity it describes is perceived as disorganized or undesirable. Its impact greatly depends on context.