Kaleidoscopic

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(pronounced kuh-ly-duh-skop-ik)  adjective

Definition

exhibiting characteristics of a kaleidoscope; constantly changing in pattern, color, scene, relations, sequence of things, etc.; having a succession of changing phases, events, or activity; marked by tremendous variety; multifarious.

Main Example

• First, a quick review of Covid-19's tortuous path since it struck America last February: The entire nation being in a state of utter shock by the way the virus took hold of NYC last spring; the epicenter then shifting to California, Texas, Georgia and elsewhere in the South; a relative quiescence in late summer; a massive resurgence in the death toll in early fall which continues to be high; the exciting announcement in early November of extremely successful vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna giving hope of an ultimate conquest over the virus within a year; and now the emergence of even more contagious and deadly variants from South Africa and Brazil that threaten the effectiveness of those promising vaccines. No question, the trajectory being woven by the novel coronavirus has been kaleidoscopic.

Workplace Examples

• During the past three hours, as the hurricane approached landfall, its speed, direction, and barometric pressure have been changing rapidly. Given this kaleidoscope of shifting information, there is no telling where it will hit and with what strength. This is one of the reasons that hurricane landfall forecasting is such a touchy business.
• Last night's "Amanpour & Company" was one of the more rewarding episodes; the four segments and the coda "Finally" covered just about every hot topic. Quite a kaleidoscope of currently controversial issues.

Other Examples

• referring to the big battles that loom between the Democrats and Republicans on how to combat the nation's Covid-19 and economic crises, this author saying: "For the next several months, news from Washington promises to be a kaleidoscope of gripping and ever-changing headlines."
• critiquing a client's website, a consultant saying: "You have too many colors and too much text. Besides, each page seems to have a different format. It's a bit overwhelming. To get people's attention, you don't have to make the site so kaleidoscopic!"
• the rich and kaleidoscopic fall colors that some parts of Northeastern U.S. are famous for
• thanks to elaborate traditional costumes and intricate, fast-moving steps, a folk dance presented by an East European troupe becoming a kaleidoscope of colors
• while discussing why Beethoven's music appeals to both the young and the old, famous symphony orchestra conductor John Eliot Gardiner telling an interviewer: "Beethoven is so full of rhythm, and excitement, and kaleidoscopic changes of emotion"

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