ENGLISH
REFERENCE

motley

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˈmɑtɫi// UK //mˈɒtli// mot·ley

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.


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.

Synonyms
Usage

Commonly appears in the fixed phrase 'motley crew'. Often used attributively before a noun to emphasize a lack of uniformity.

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