as varied as
- idiom
- Teams around the world are busy scanning monuments as varied as the ruins of Petra and the moai.
Examples
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His interests are as varied as the options available in a buffet, ranging from sushi to dessert.
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Within such an environment, strategies are as varied as the individual students with whom we work.
Academic text (2009) -
Timbuktu is as varied as it is vibrant.
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Successful strategies are as varied as the communities themselves; no single cookie-cutter approach works in all situations.
Academic text (2009) -
Subscribers' mail and private information were stolen and circulated, with the victims as varied as businesses and academic institutions.
Academic text (2009) -
The categories we discuss do not capture the full range of place images, which include topics as varied as agricultural crops and architectural form.
Academic text (2009) -
Common examples that show the principle are as varied as scissors, broom holders, lift bridges, O-rings, building elevators, pressurized airliner doors, and knots.
Academic text (2009) -
The plant species in the rainforest are as varied as the colors of the flowers blooming around them.
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The dishes served at the festival are as varied as the cultures represented, showcasing foods from all over the world.
Antonyms
How Varied
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward comparative simile: 'varied' means diverse and the 'as ... as' structure signals a direct comparison, so the overall meaning (having a great deal of diversity) follows transparently from the parts. This compositional pattern is common cross-linguistically and would be predictable to a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.
Etymology
The expression as varied as comes from the simple idea of comparing one thing to another that contains many different items, like saying as varied as a box of chocolates or a market stall full of goods. That's why it means 'very diverse' or 'full of different kinds'.