as in rhetorical
full of fine words and fancy expressions
an overwritten novel with far too many purple patches
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Recent Examples of purple
The shampoo uses highly concentrated violet pigments (which give it that signature purple hue) to neutralize yellow tones on contact.
—
Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Apr. 2026
Pink, white, red, purple, orange, and yellow Marigolds can handle the heat, and love it.
—Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 28 Apr. 2026
Green asparagus, white asparagus, purple asparagus.
—Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Apr. 2026
And then there’s Texas sage — perhaps the ultimate Sun Belt shrub — which thrives in extreme heat and dry conditions and rewards homeowners with silvery foliage and purple blooms after summer rains.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for purple
Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Apr. 2026
Pink, white, red, purple, orange, and yellow Marigolds can handle the heat, and love it.
—Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 28 Apr. 2026
Green asparagus, white asparagus, purple asparagus.
—Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Apr. 2026
And then there’s Texas sage — perhaps the ultimate Sun Belt shrub — which thrives in extreme heat and dry conditions and rewards homeowners with silvery foliage and purple blooms after summer rains.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for purple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purple
Adjective
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The unraveling of the once-cozy relationship is not just personal or rhetorical.—
Julia Khrebtan-Hörhager,
The Conversation,
24 Apr. 2026
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For Republican Presidents, this has mostly been rhetoric.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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It is surrounded by appliqué ornamentation reflecting the decorative arts of each culture and an ornate frieze around the periphery.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
30 Apr. 2026
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Cruise ships release passengers daily to see the bright, ornate facades lining the harbor.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purple. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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