Word
motley
Phoneticsmot·ley
US/ˈmɑtɫi/
UK/mˈɒtli/
Definition
adj. made up of many different people or things that do not seem to belong together. It often describes a group that looks messy or disorganized.
adj. consisting of a diverse and often incongruous mixture of elements. Frequently used to describe a group of people who lack a common style, background, or purpose.
Examples
“The team was a motley crew of students and retirees.”
“The protest attracted a motley collection of activists, each carrying signs for completely different causes.”
“The library's shelves held a motley assortment of leather-bound classics and cheap modern paperbacks, reflecting the eccentric tastes of its previous owner.”
Examples
simple
“The team was a motley crew of students and retirees.”
contextual
“The protest attracted a motley collection of activists, each carrying signs for completely different causes.”
complex
“The library's shelves held a motley assortment of leather-bound classics and cheap modern paperbacks, reflecting the eccentric tastes of its previous owner.”
Usage
Commonly appears in the fixed phrase 'motley crew'. Often used attributively before a noun to emphasize a lack of uniformity.
Real-World Examples
“He shares cigarettes with its motley crew of residents, observes their dramas and begins to emerge from himself.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/motley