Meaning & use
protean
Able to change frequently or easily, taking on many different forms or roles.
See it in a sentence
The actor's protean talent let him shift convincingly between comedy and tragedy.
Water has a protean quality, adapting to the shape of whatever container holds it.
A note on using this word
Protean comes from Proteus, a shape-shifting sea god in Greek mythology, and suggests versatility rather than instability.
Words with a similar meaning
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Words with an opposite meaning
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