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 At the reception, David and Victoria wore matching cardinal purple Antonio Berardi ensembles, which became one of the most memorable celebrity fashion moments of the era. — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026 With code purple and code red, which is one step less dangerous than purple, everyone is at risk for harmful health impacts, according to WUSA9, a local TV news station tracking air quality. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 4 July 2026 The new artwork completed the trip back to 2010, showing Swift in a purple Giambattista Valli Haute Couture dress and the curls associated with the original era. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 2 July 2026 About 11,000 light-years away from Earth, the supernova Cassiopeia A’s X-rays (seen above) are rendered in blue and purple, while infrared wavelengths are shown in red and white using data from JWST. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for purple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purple
  1. rhetorical
  2. ornate
Adjective
  • But Trump so far, it’s mostly been rhetorical.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 28 June 2026
  • Beginning in her early teens, Joyce loved watching Kirk’s debates on Instagram, seeing in them not carefully honed rhetorical tactics but authentic civility.
    — Eliza Griswold, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Definition of rhetorical
Adjective
  • The ornate dress hit just above the ankle, revealing a pair of metallic gold pumps with a lustrous finish.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 5 July 2026
  • Opened in 1901, the ornate behemoth in Center City, built in the style of the Second Empire, remains a showstopper today.
    — Regan Stephens, New York Times, 2 July 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 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of purple for Spanish Speakers

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