motley
Ragtag and varied
Motley describes a mixture of diverse, often incongruous elements: a motley crew of musicians and drifters, a motley assortment of furniture.
The word carries a slightly dismissive tone—the mix lacks coherence or quality.
Historically, motley was the multicolored costume worn by court jesters, which explains its association with varied, mismatched combinations.
Having multiple distinct colors
- multicoloredHaving multiple hues
- rainbowRefracted light arc
- variegatedMarked with different colors
- polychromeHaving multiple colors
kaleidoscopic · prismatic · dappled · mottled · piebald · pied · skewbald · brindled
Of various sorts
- variedDiffering in type
- miscellaneousOf mixed composition
- heterogeneousConsisting of dissimilar elements
- disparateEssentially different in kind
multifarious · sundry · mixed · eclectic · ragtag · incongruous · unmatched · ill-sorted
Masked comic servant character
- checkerboardAlternating square pattern
- patchworkFabric scraps sewn together
- piecedJoined from fragments
- particoloredHaving multiple distinct colors
diamond pattern · checkered · quartered · contrasting · tessellated
Confused, disorderly mixture
- mishmashDisorderly mixture of elements
- jumbleConfused disorderly collection
- potpourriFragrant dried petal mixture
- melangeAssorted mixture of elements
gallimaufry · farrago · salmagundi · pastiche · bricolage · olio · ragbag · grab bag
Unwise, gullible person
- harlequinMasked comic servant character
- clownComedic performer in makeup
- court jesterRoyal household entertainer
- cap and bellsJester's traditional headwear
bauble · commedia · zany · buffoon · particolored
parti-colored
Having multiple distinct colors
- multicoloredHaving multiple hues
- rainbowRefracted light arc
- variegatedMarked with different colors
polychrome · kaleidoscopic · prismatic · dappled · mottled · piebald · pied · skewbald · brindled · speckled
assorted
Of various sorts
- variedDiffering in type
- miscellaneousOf mixed composition
- heterogeneousConsisting of dissimilar elements
disparate · multifarious · sundry · mixed · eclectic · ragtag · incongruous · unmatched · ill-sorted · random
harlequin
Masked comic servant character
- checkerboardAlternating square pattern
- patchworkFabric scraps sewn together
- piecedJoined from fragments
particolored · diamond pattern · checkered · quartered · contrasting · tessellated
hodgepodge
Confused, disorderly mixture
- mishmashDisorderly mixture of elements
- jumbleConfused disorderly collection
- potpourriFragrant dried petal mixture
melange · gallimaufry · farrago · salmagundi · pastiche · bricolage · olio · ragbag · grab bag · mixed bag
fool
Unwise, gullible person
- harlequinMasked comic servant character
- clownComedic performer in makeup
- court jesterRoyal household entertainer
cap and bells · bauble · commedia · zany · buffoon · particolored
- stuffthings, items, objects, stuff, goods
- clownsclown, bozo, hobo clown, rodeo clown, party clown
- mixturesmix, mixture, blend, blending, amalgam
- jester thingscap, bells, costume, bauble, jokes
- jestersjester, fool, court jester, court fool, buffoon
- Shakespearean FoolsTouchstone, Yorick, jester, clown, wise fool
motleyuniform
Identical throughout
homogeneous · homogenous · unmixed · same · identical
motleymonochrome
Single-color rendering
monochromatic · solid · plain · monotone · uncolored
motleyunified
Combined into one
coherent · harmonious · cohesive · matched · coordinated
- motley crewDiverse, disorganized group
- Motley CrueEighties glam metal band
- motley foolMulticolored court jester