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multifarious

multifarious

1 9.2
Having many different kinds or parts
  • adjective
  • /ˌmʌl.tɪˈfɛr.i.əs/
  • Formal
translation icon : multiforme
  • The festival featured a multifarious array of performances, including dance, music, and theater.
  • multifarious purposes
  • multifarious nature

Examples

  • "If nature and God were somehow capable of speaking to us, the utterances would be multifarious and conflicting."

    Academic text (2001)
  • Academic freedom, often the object of slogans and multifarious activism, is neither a fixed nor an intuitive concept.

    Academic text (2008)
  • " Ladies and gentlemen, despite our multifarious interests, we are united on one front."

    Fiction book (2001)
  • The multifarious aspects of this god are shown by his more than one hundred documented names.

    Academic text (1990)
  • What sets these individuals apart is their diligence in pursuing professional growth despite the surge of multifarious demands they face in their daily lives.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Further, the university maintains scores of web pages for its multifarious organizations, suborganizations, and activities.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Hip Hop's origins are complex and multifarious along racial lines.

    Academic text (2016)
  • The authors provide many types of evaluation "instruments" to answer the multifarious purposes of the institutional audits.

    Academic text (2003)
  • We are eternally grateful to you for the fact that you have made a point of ensuring that the the various, the multifarious voices of this House are heard.

  • The bridging of the digital divide is critical to the circumvention of the multifarious problems afflicting children around the world.

    Academic text (2001)

Synonyms

various
vsmultifarious
1.0

Having many different kinds

implies a broader, more numerous diversity across types and aspects
varied
vsmultifarious
54 3.3

Containing many different kinds, not all the same

is a stronger term indicating many different parts or kinds
miscellaneous
vsmultifarious
17 6.5

Something that contains different kinds of things like papers or tools

suggests wider diversity across parts and types rather than a simple mix
multifaceted
vsmultifarious
15 5.9

Having many different parts or sides

focuses on broad diversity across parts and types
multidimensional
vsmultifarious
9 6.6

Having many different parts or sides that make it complex

covers varied kinds and types rather than dimensional complexity
multifold
vsmultifarious
1 5.5

Having many different parts or aspects

portrays broad diversity across types rather than mere multiplicity
diversified
vsmultifarious
1 4.7

Having many different kinds of things

points more directly to inherent many varied kinds rather than change
many-faceted
vsmultifarious
1 5.8

Having many different parts or qualities

emphasizes general variety across parts rather than noted sides
many-sided
vsmultifarious
1 4.1

Having many different parts or qualities

stresses overall diversity of types and aspects instead of sides
multiplex
vsmultifarious
  • Specialized
1 6.5

Having many parts or features and not simple

is more about general variety across kinds than structural complexity
multihued
vsmultifarious
1 5.9

Having many different colors

refers more generally to varied kinds and aspects beyond colors
manyfold
vsmultifarious
  • Archaic
8.1

Having many different parts or types

focuses more on the presence of varied types than on count
multiform
vsmultifarious
6.8

Having many different forms or shapes

refers more broadly to varied kinds and aspects rather than forms
heterogenic
vsmultifarious
8.0

A thing that has different kinds of parts

stresses a wide range of kinds and varied types more generally
omnifarious
vsmultifarious
  • Archaic
9.9

Of many different kinds

means many varied kinds but not necessarily absolutely every sort
multivalent
vsmultifarious
9.2

Having many possible meanings for different people

focuses on varied kinds and types rather than multiple interpretations

Antonyms

92 3.7

Always the same in all parts and at all times

20 6.6

Made of people or things that are all the same

How Diverse

multifarious
  • Formal
1 9.2
diverse
297 3.4
varied
54 3.3
limited
97 1.9

Surface Forms

multifarious positive

Morphology

multifarious = multi + farious

The prefix multi- suggests 'many', but the remaining element is not a productive English base word, so the meaning is not transparently compositional for most learners.

Etymology

Multifarious looks like it joins multi- ('many') and various ('different kinds'). A helpful way to remember it is that something multifarious has 'many different parts or types'.