How to Use tortoiseshell in a Sentence

tortoiseshell

1 of 2 noun
  • The black grounds the design while the tortoiseshell keeps it soft.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026
  • The frame is available in shiny black and tortoiseshell.
    — Nora Colomer May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • For the pattern-loving girlies, stripes, stars, and tortoiseshell are so in.
    — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Black is the focal point of this tortoiseshell design.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Take a look at some of the many ways nail artists are interpreting tortoiseshell.
    — Condé Nast, Allure, 16 Aug. 2019
  • For a weekend stay, something more deluxe, like a case of wine or tortoiseshell salad tongs.
    — Ali Wentworth, Town & Country, 7 Jan. 2013
  • Solid black nails are interspersed with tortoiseshell for a moody mix.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026
  • The clip, shared by @myzoohousee, shows an adult cat and a kitten, both with similar tortoiseshell coats.
    — Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Available in everything from black to tortoiseshell to bright red, there’s a pair to match just about any mom’s style.
    — Terri Peters, Parents, 9 Nov. 2023
  • Scroll on for some of our favorite examples of tortoiseshell nails for every style.
    — Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, 9 Sep. 2019
  • The tortoiseshell shades are a great modern option, and the frame complements his oval face shape.
    — Christine Flammia, Esquire, 23 June 2017
  • Yet another white cat flicks a lever that bangs a cowbell while a tortoiseshell reaches up to swat at a set of chimes.
    — Dan Nosowitz, Cosmopolitan, 12 Sep. 2017
  • The tortoiseshell finish of the side table adds a layer of pattern.
    — Marni Elyse Katz, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Apr. 2018
  • The library discovered that the desk held three pairs of glasses, two tortoiseshell and one wire-framed.
    — The Washington Post, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2017
  • The rest of her nails are painted a simple light gray and a deep brown-burgundy to let the tortoiseshell do all the talking.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 29 June 2023
  • The coat featured shoulder epaulettes, a rain guard, a buckled belt, and tortoiseshell buttons.
    — Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 21 Dec. 2022
  • Flossie is a 27-year-old British tortoiseshell cat − and the oldest living cat.
    — Josie Goodrich, USA TODAY, 14 July 2023
  • The jovial retiree, with a wide grin and tortoiseshell glasses, worked in restaurants growing up, then had his own for five years.
    — TheWeek, 2 Feb. 2020
  • Kenny paired the dress with a pair of white sling-backs with a tortoiseshell block heel, a white shoulder bag, and a large set of hoop earrings.
    — Zoë Weiner, Teen Vogue, 8 Oct. 2018
  • The tortoiseshell buttons add a little luxury, and the rich green shade pops against all the neutrals in a fall wardrobe.
    — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Harvest is a 6-year-old tortoiseshell cat with a great sense of independence.
    — OregonLive.com, 19 Dec. 2017
  • This tortoiseshell cat trinket dish will keep their treasures safe and sound — and garner many complements at the same time.
    — Jamie Kravitz, Woman's Day, 26 Sep. 2022
  • Sarah Flint takes your run-of-the-mill tall style and elevates it with a sleek navy hue and gorgeous tortoiseshell block heel.
    — Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 19 Dec. 2022
  • By fall, tortoiseshell and cheetah prints were gaining steam, and now winter has seen lace and plaid become standouts.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 20 Jan. 2026
  • Celine tortoiseshell sunglasses, a white T-shirt, and blue jeans.
    — Douglas Greenwood, Vogue, 26 May 2022
  • Duckie, their young tortoiseshell cat, on the other hand, is still an explorer-in-training.
    — Sarah Sekula, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2021
  • Or, opt for a classic tortoiseshell pattern, reimagined in a super-fine, glassy cat-eye finish.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 19 Jan. 2026
  • One black pair's available on Poshmark, and a tortoiseshell pair is available at Saks.
    — Katherine J Igoe, Marie Claire, 13 Feb. 2020
  • Everything from tortoiseshell and florals to gold details looks gorgeous when paired with a white nail design.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 24 May 2026
  • The callback to tortoiseshell sunglasses gives it a bit of a retro feel, yet the neutral palette and high shine give it a modern spin.
    — Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, 9 Sep. 2019

tortoiseshell

2 of 2 adjective
  • Their tortoiseshell print boasts a pop of lavender around the lenses and on the inner arms for a glam look with a modern twist.
    — Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Nov. 2025
  • Plus crimson auras and tortoiseshell patterns.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Her tortoiseshell headband is just about seared into the minds of It girls everywhere.
    — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Gold studs pair perfectly with the brown color palette of tortoiseshell patterns.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026
  • The dress comes in three pretty washes, all of which have contrast stitching and tortoiseshell-inspired buttons.
    — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
  • Most of the frames are tortoiseshell or black, with tinted lens colors ranging from yellow to pink, blue and everything in between.
    — Christopher Murray May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Rodgers, who is thirty-eight, scanned the menu through tortoiseshell glasses before settling on avocado toast.
    — Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
  • The singer-songwriter went with a shiny brown tortoiseshell-esque version, which served as a warm and neutral complement to her outfit.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 16 June 2026
  • The tortoiseshell palette is deconstructed in this look, which features a blend of full torties, chocolate brown tips, and barley there caramel auras.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Now, six years later, large amounts of ceanothus, an evergreen shrub that tortoiseshell butterfly caterpillars love to eat, have grown back.
    — Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
  • Sweeney, who appeared to be sitting on a boat, added a pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses and covered her platinum blonde lob with a cream Tecovas baseball cap.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 27 June 2026
  • Even the simplest design details, like a red smile line hugging a tortoiseshell French tip, or a lipstick-red border outlining each nail, can make a bold statement.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
  • An InStyle editor shares 15 ways to explore tortoiseshell nails.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026
  • This manicure radiates positive energy with a mix of tortoiseshell print, blooming gel flowers, and pops of funky blue airbrushing.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 16 Jan. 2026
  • The shoes are a standout thanks to their tall, 105mm tortoiseshell-effect heel that features a long, gold T-bar logo along the back of the rectangular heel.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
  • The monochromatic fit was finished off with tortoiseshell oval sunglasses from Heaven Mayhem, a caramel brown leather bag, and polka dot, pointed pumps.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 5 Dec. 2025
  • Scorched Bamboo Bookshelves These are gorgeous, warm shelves made of wood that looks burnt, or that has a tortoiseshell appearance (like seen in the etagere sheet music holder above).
    — Heather Bien, Martha Stewart, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Like most animal prints, styling renditions for tortoiseshell manicure are endless, from ultra-glossy finishes to modern takes on classic French tips.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026
  • The genderless product is available in a range of colorways and in plain and tortoiseshell versions, all made in France from cellulose acetate and fully recyclable.
    — Alex Wynne, Footwear News, 26 Jan. 2026
  • While leopard and zebra prints are bona fide staples for maximalist moments, tortoiseshell patterns offer a subdued sophistication.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Lipa's nails were the work of manicurist Kim Truong, who filed the pop star's nails into medium-length oval shape, then created a tortoiseshell effect across Lipa's entire nail.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The legendary comedian finished off his casual look with tortoiseshell aviator sunglasses.
    — Allie Fasanella, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
  • Whether it was tousled by hand or pulled back in a tortoiseshell headband, Bessette’s length and color followed the same effortless code of her wardrobe, leaving us with enduring hair inspiration even after her untimely passing.
    — Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Dawn Allenby presented Richard St Ives with an oil-painting of a bull in a tortoiseshell frame which had caught her eye at the back of a butcher’s stall in St John’s Market.
    — Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Katie Holmes has circled the category too, appearing in tortoiseshell patent loafers from Franco Sarto during a New York outing, complete with a lug sole and metal bit detail.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
  • But customers aren’t just gathered outside the store’s doors to shop for an artisanal brand of toothpaste or a bottle of French micellar water—they’re there to nab the tortoiseshell headband that Carolyn Bessette Kennedy once wore to slick back her long blonde strands.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
  • In a viral video shared on TikTok in August by Amanda Duréy under the username @mandiiieeeeeee, the poster can be seen lifting her blanket to find her fluffy tortoiseshell cat curled up by her tummy, enjoying a warm nap in the coziest spot.
    — Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
  • In that time, a cultural obsession with Bessette-Kennedy's minimalistic ‘90s style has taken over the trend cycle, with fans scrambling to hunt down her signature scent, go-to Levi’s, and tortoiseshell accessories.
    — Grace McCarty, Glamour, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Their 105mm rise kept proportion taut, while the cutout ankle strap echoed the house’s ongoing exploration of tactile hardware — recently updated with T-Latch sandals and tortoiseshell-heel variations, as seen on Kylie Jenner walking into the show.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025
  • As well as plucking at heartstrings, the show propelled a new generation of cigarette jeans and tortoiseshell headband-wearing girls to pack out The Odeon and drive up the prices of Calvin Klein and Yohji Yamamoto on The RealReal.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 3 June 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tortoiseshell.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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