Thesaurus results for DAPPLE

dapple 1 of 2

noun

ˈda-pəl

Definition of dapple

as in fleck

a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part the clouds threw dapples of shadow over the eerily quiet street

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

dapple

2 of 2

verb

as in to sprinkle

to mark with small spots especially unevenly sunlight dappled the canopy of vines over our heads

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of dapple

Noun

In the prelude to a November ballot featuring the candidate synonymous with polarization, all the dapple and nuance of life is once again being reduced to a binary. — Karl Vick, TIME, 2 July 2024 The building's neo-Gothic domes and spires were lit up against the indigo night, creating Impressionist dapples on the river. — Lina Mounzer, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Apr. 2023

Verb

The eight-year-old girl sat obediently for her portrait, her hair dappled in light against foliage. — Literary Hub, 17 July 2026 Let the plant recover in bright, indirect or dappled sunlight for a week, then gradually move it back into more light. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dapple

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dapple

Noun

In addition, since all this debris is moving at orbital velocity, a fleck of paint traveling in the opposite direction to an operational satellite can hit it at a speed in excess of Mach 47.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2026
As few as 10 cells, hidden in an infinitesimal fleck of feces, can contaminate raw milk and trigger a fatal infection.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of fleck

Verb

Thoughtful furnishings and decor (including a wall of decorative plates) are sprinkled throughout.

— Angela Tafoya, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026
Senate In the Senate, 35 of the upper chamber’s 100 seats are on the ballot for six-year terms, including 13 Democratic and 22 Republican seats sprinkled across the political landscape.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of sprinkle

Noun

Finally, grab 25% off the Logitech G316 X 98 Gaming Keyboard, providing hot-swappable mechanical switches and a playful dot-matrix LED display.

— Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 28 Oct. 2026
Teachers wanted new leadership and the sticker — a red dot — served as a collective reminder to go vote against the incumbent, Buchanan said.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of dot

Verb

Donning a pink skirt suit and matching pillbox hat stained with fake blood, Fox stepped out as the former First Lady during an event for Urban Decay.

— Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2026
The sculptures were frequently stained with graphite or chalk dust, whose force of presence was comparable to that of cliff or cave, capable of stunning the viewer into silence.

— News Desk, Artforum, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of stain

Noun

Chips could be destroyed by even a speck of dust, so factories became impregnable clean rooms, their workers clad in bunny suits.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
The source was generally in good condition, but mold spots and dense clusters of small white specks required careful treatment.

— Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of speck

Verb

The Parthenon marbles date to the 5th century BCE and were originally created for the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens.

— Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
The meat on the bones varies in thickness and, thanks to marbling and tough connective tissue, short ribs are ideal for slow cooking.

— Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of marble

Noun

Doctors detected abnormal breath sounds, and a scan revealed a round blotch in his right lung—a sign of blood, pus, fluid or tissue—but tests for common pathogens came back negative.

— Rachel Melegrito, Scientific American, 26 Oct. 2026
Juveniles can be distinguished by their dark facial bands and gray or tan body patterned with black or brown blotches.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of blotch

Verb

For at least a month, the president has been peppering both executive actions and promises of cash payouts into his midterm campaign schedule and social media posts.

— Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026
The Glee reboot should pepper the series with some fun cameos from beloved characters, many of whom got cast in the later shakier seasons, as well as some of the most fun guest stars.

— Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of pepper

Browse Nearby Words

dapperness

dapple

dappled

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Dapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dapple. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of dapple

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fulsome

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes