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myriad

/ˈmɪriəd/  ·  say it: MIR·ee·uhd

a countless number of

In Describing & Comparing

In more detail

1. (noun) a very large number or amount of something

2. (adjective) consisting of many different types or parts; very many

Examples

• 1. There are myriad ways to solve this problem.
• 2. The night sky contains myriad stars.

How to use myriad

Myriad functions as both noun and adjective in modern English, though historically it was primarily adjectival. As a noun it takes 'of' (a myriad of problems), while as an adjective it stands alone (myriad problems). It conveys vast quantity or diversity and appears frequently in formal and literary contexts, though it is increasingly common in everyday usage. The adjective form is more direct and often preferred in contemporary writing.

Register: formal

Common phrases

• myriad of
• myriad possibilities
• myriad challenges
• myriad forms
• myriad ways
• myriad reasons

Synonyms

multitude · abundance · host · countless number · sea

Opposites

scarcity · handful

Word family

myriads (plural noun)

A common mistake

Some learners add 'of' when using myriad as an adjective, writing 'myriad of ways' when 'myriad ways' is the correct form; the 'of' is only used with the noun.

Nearby in Describing & Comparing

abundant, sparse, dense, solitary, uniform, erratic

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained