Synonyms for

Colourful

Verb / ˈkʌlɜ: / Another word for colourful — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

full of color or having a lot of different colors

Synonyms & similar words

colorless colourless colorful colorful vibrant bright lively brilliant rich variegated multicolored polychromatic prismatic rainbow-like chromatic iridescent flamboyant showy flashy gaudy garish jazzy loud

Synonyms by register

Formal

vivid chromatic rich intense

Informal

bright gaudy flashy loud

Literary

iridescent kaleidoscopic opulent

Antonyms

colorless drab dull plain monochromatic uncolored pale

Common collocations

  • colourful characters
  • colourful language
  • colourful story
  • colourful past
  • colourful clothes
  • colourful world
  • colourful display

Word family

noun colour
verb colour
adjective colourful
adverb colourfully

Usage note

While 'colourful' often implies a positive vibrancy, it can sometimes suggest gaudiness or being overly ornate, depending on the context.

Example sentences

  1. The butterfly was very colourful and had orange, black, and yellow wings.
  2. The painting was so colourful that it brightened up the whole room.
  3. The dress was very colourful and had lots of different patterns on it.
  4. The fireworks were very colourful and lit up the night sky.
  5. The parrot was very colourful with green, blue and red feathers.

Quotes

  • Life is like a rainbow. You need both rain and sun to make its colours appear. - Unknown
  • Colour is my day-long obsession, joy and torment. - Claude Monet
  • Mere colour, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways. - Oscar Wilde

Try these popular words

the and that for you with was this are have not from

Practice

Play the Word Synonyms game · Choose level (start near 1)

Worksheets

Grade 4 · Grade 5 · Grade 6

Topics

Guides

Explore more words