magpie 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of magpienext
as in eclectic
consisting of many things of different sorts a pack rat whose cramped apartment is filled with a magpie collection of books, old newspapers, and tchotchkes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

magpie

2 of 2

noun

ˈmag-ˌpī How to pronounce magpie (audio)
as in chatterer
a person who talks constantly media magpies will no doubt seize upon the president's latest gaffe and blow it all out of proportion

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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 magpie
Adjective
The magpie Bayazid meets boys from a higher station who attend the nearby private school and live in a world almost as alien as a snowscape in a snow globe. — Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025 A little magpie accessorizing feels right here, and why fret over cold toes? — Talia Abbas, Vogue, 17 Nov. 2025
Noun
Even the New York Times got in on the action, with a profile of the eccentric Sitwell (the charms her magpie, Hecate, are impossible to resist). — Kate Aurthur, Variety, 24 June 2026 Over to the corvid family for some intelligence, and the raven gets the nod for its size advantage over the magpie and the jay. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for magpie
Recent Examples of Synonyms for magpie
  1. eclectic
  2. jay
Adjective
  • Sean Ono Lennon has had a long, eclectic music career as a member of a number of bands, including the Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger, Cibo Matto, the Claypool Lennon Delirium and the Plastic Ono Band.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The milestone arrives with a remarkably eclectic roll call of global tastemakers, executives and visionaries.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of eclectic
Noun
  • While some birds migrate south for the winter, others, like the blue jay and classic cardinal, remain on the East Coast and brave the cold.
    — Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Sparrows, jays, robins, and mockingbirds are some of the most common species to attack garden tomatoes.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of jay

Browse Nearby Words

magnum opuses
magpie
magpies
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Cite this Entry

“Magpie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/magpie. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about magpie

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