purple

adjective

ˈpər-pəl How to pronounce purple (audio)
Definition of purplenext
as in rhetorical
full of fine words and fancy expressions an overwritten novel with far too many purple patches

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of purple Whichever party comes out on top in the county judge race could determine if Tarrant is red, blue or purple. — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2026 He was covered in purple balloons, only his face peeking through. — Ellen O’Connell Whittet, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026 Like Connelly’s purple, pink and black pair, many of the shoes used metallic colorblocking. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026 Outside, the focal point is a massive, heated infinity pool (with an adjacent hot tub) that also faces the prime vantage point, ideal for the region’s stunning orange-and-purple sunsets—even in winter. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for purple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purple
  1. rhetorical
  2. ornate
Adjective
  • The latest Piker rhetorical bomb El-Sayed had to dodge was the streamer’s assertion in an interview with Axios, excerpts of which were posted Thursday, that the United States is more of a fomenter of terrorism than al-Qaeda.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
  • By retaining too much of the play’s rhetorical architecture, the film turns a provocative dramatic premise into something closer to an illustrated thesis.
    — Beandrea July, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of rhetorical
Adjective
  • And John Hancock’s grand, ornate signature on the Declaration of Independence became so famous that his name is now a term for signatures in general.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
  • On Thursday morning the ornate marble lobby of the New York Stock Exchange in lower Manhattan was turned into a museum of Hollywood history.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of ornate

Browse Nearby Words

purls
purple
purple passage
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Purple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purple. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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