What does intermingled mean?
Intermingled means mixed together or blended so that the separate elements are difficult to distinguish. The word is especially useful for describing colors, sounds, textures, or other physical combinations, as in “intermingled smells,” and it can also apply to people, communities, cultures, or influences whose boundaries have become less distinct. It has a formal, somewhat literary tone and suggests more than a simple mixture: the elements may seem to have merged into a single complex whole. Related forms include the verb “intermingle” and the gerund “intermingling.” In modern English, “intermingled” is usually used as an adjective or as the past participle of “intermingle,” while the latter is the more natural verb when describing the act of combining.
adjectiveMixed together or combined into a single mass, group, or collection. It can also describe people or things that have become mingled with one another.
- Combined or mixed together into one mass, collection, or whole.
- Describing people or groups whose identities, activities, or interests overlap.
"The gallery was filled with intermingled colors and textures."
"The crowd consisted of intermingled dancers, singers, and musicians."
"The report examines the intermingled influences that shaped the city's architecture."
Intermingled captures the moment when separate things lose their clear boundaries and become part of one shared mixture.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does intermingled come from?
Intermingled is formed from the prefix inter-, meaning “between” or “among,” and the verb “mingle.” The word therefore conveys mixing together or combining within a shared space. “Mingle” and related forms such as “commingle” belong to the same lexical family, although the precise history of their origin is less certain than their modern semantic relationship.
Related word forms
How intermingled is actually used
The term is formal and often carries the sense of two or more distinguishable elements being blended together. It can describe physical materials as well as people, cultures, influences, or interests.