myriad
/'miriəd/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Countless, innumerable: Used to describe an extremely large, indefinite number of things that cannot be easily counted.
- Having many varied elements: Used to describe something composed of a great and diverse multitude.
Noun:
- A very great number: A large, indefinite, and countless number of people or things.
- (Archaic) Ten thousand: In historical contexts, a specific number equal to ten thousand.
Examples of Usage
Adjective:
- The night sky was filled with myriad stars. (The night sky was filled with countless stars.)
- She offered a myriad of excuses for being late. (She offered a vast number of excuses for being late.)
Noun:
- A myriad of problems arose from the new policy. (A great number of problems arose from the new policy.)
- (Archaic) An army of ten thousand men was called a myriad. (An army of ten thousand men was called a myriad.)
Advanced Usage
- "Myriad of" vs. "Myriad" (Adjective): Traditionally, "myriad" was primarily a noun followed by "of" (e.g., a myriad of possibilities). In modern usage, it is also commonly and correctly used as an adjective directly before a noun (e.g., myriad possibilities). Both forms are widely accepted.
- The project presented a myriad of challenges. (Noun form)
- The project presented myriad challenges. (Adjective form)
Variants and Related Words
- Myriads (n, plural): Used to emphasize multiple vast multitudes.
- Myriads of tiny creatures live in the soil. (Countless numbers of tiny creatures live in the soil.)
- Myriad-minded (adj, literary): Having countless facets to one's mind or personality; versatile.
- Shakespeare is often described as the myriad-minded bard.
Synonyms
- Adjective: Countless, innumerable, untold, infinite, multitudinous, manifold.
- Noun: Multitude, host, swarm, sea, array, plethora.
Antonyms
- Adjective: Few, countable, limited, finite.
- Noun: Handful, few, scarcity, paucity.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- A myriad of choices/options: Used to describe a situation with an overwhelming number of possibilities.
- The modern consumer faces a myriad of choices.
- In myriad ways: In countless or numerous different manners.
- Technology has changed our lives in myriad ways.
Adjective
- too numerous to be counted
- incalculable riches
- countless hours
- an infinite number of reasons
- innumerable difficulties
- the multitudinous seas
- myriad stars
- untold thousands
Noun
- the cardinal number that is the product of ten and one thousand
- a large indefinite number
- he faced a myriad of details