variants
also dapple
1
as in dotted
marked with spots
a dappled fawn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in colored
having blotches of two or more colors
a forest that was vibrant with the dappled foliage of autumn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sprinkled
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
sunlight dappled the canopy of vines over our heads
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dappled
Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 29 May 2026
Planting in the wrong light Sun and shade requirements are easy to misjudge, especially as mature trees grow in and once-sunny beds become dappled over time.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 16 Apr. 2026
The rapper, dressed in an oversized silk bonnet and Uggs, is marking the moves, but her dancers are performing full-out, their cropped halter tops and durags dappled with sweat.
—Jazmine Hughes, Allure, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dappled
Adjective
In 2020, our founder planted hundreds of hosta plants behind her chicken coops under the dappled shade of the property's stately dawn redwoods.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 29 May 2026
Planting in the wrong light Sun and shade requirements are easy to misjudge, especially as mature trees grow in and once-sunny beds become dappled over time.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
Windows with trees, hedges, or buildings partially obscuring the sun outside them may get medium light exposure, and the light may be dappled or filtered.
—Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 16 Apr. 2026
The rapper, dressed in an oversized silk bonnet and Uggs, is marking the moves, but her dancers are performing full-out, their cropped halter tops and durags dappled with sweat.
—Jazmine Hughes, Allure, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dappled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dappled
Adjective
-
So if the Heat money is there – with or without Giannis Antetokounmpo – Norm signs on the dotted line.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
20 June 2026
-
Mercury’s clash with Neptune begs you to hold off on signing on the dotted line.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Calvo, who is often chaufferred by a police escort but was driving himself on Sunday, also received a second citation under the Florida Statute that regulates the use of emergency and colored lights on vehicles.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
15 June 2026
-
Crosby used acrylic paint, colored pencils, charcoal, and transfers on paper to create the massive 9-by-10 piece.—
CBS Chicago Team,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
The town is home to 35 different accommodations sprinkled along oceanfront El Mar Drive and its surrounding streets.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
17 June 2026
-
Dolshun recommends diatomaceous earth, a natural alternative to harsher insecticides that comes as a powdery substance that can be easily sprinkled in problem areas.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
The front entrance is teeming with a few dozen people, filled with colorful artwork and a TV monitor showing old video of a train that used to run through the property.—
David Wade,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
-
Summer is the season to embrace colorful stones in addition to the classics.—
Aemilia Madden,
Vogue,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Around us were rolling hills flecked with houses, dappled by the sun shining through the clouds.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
-
Open the door to streets lined with trees and flecked with benches, where the bell of the light rail dings its warning as cyclists zip by on narrow roads.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Normally, doctors can detect spotted fever Rickettsia lanei by performing specialized laboratory tests on skin or blood samples.—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
-
Bites can cause rickettsia parkeri, a type of spotted fever.—
Sophie Lindberg,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Opt for a material that’s white washed or stained for a farmhouse look.—
Rachel Fletcher,
Architectural Digest,
19 June 2026
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Crime scene technicians called in to help execute a search warrant reported observing blood spattered all over Mao’s bedroom, and a machete and two dumbbells stained with blood.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
Cabana has built an entire universe around pattern, color, and decorative exuberance, and this marbled wastebasket fits perfectly within that world.—
Jaha Nailah Avery,
Architectural Digest,
15 June 2026
-
Go for a marbled swirl of blue and orange that feels like wearable art.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dappled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dappled. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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