dapple 1 of 2

noun

ˈda-pəl How to pronounce dapple (audio)
Definition of dapplenext
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

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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
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 Gleaming spots caused by methane ice clouds in the planet's atmosphere dapple its lower half. — Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 17 Nov. 2022
Verb
This is a particularly lovely area to visit in spring, when redwoods dapple the newly green hillsides, and wildflowers peep in preserves like the Edge of Appalachia. — Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Midwest Living, 6 May 2026 The pale tortilla was dappled with shades of brown, toasty and tawny—simplicity, done superlatively. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 3 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for dapple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dapple
  1. fleck
  2. sprinkle
  3. dot
  4. stain
  5. speck
  6. marble
  7. blotch
  8. pepper
Noun
  • One image of her right knee showed flecks of blue plastic that prosecutors said came from an inflatable pool Burke used to collect blood while dismembering her body.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2026
  • Someone unfamiliar with salt bread might even suspect a major baking error, seeing a questionably smooth croissant that entirely missed the lamination process, adorned with only a few flecks of salt acting as its saving grace.
    — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 19 July 2026
Definition of fleck
Verb
  • This week brought me from Belgian Gothic seminaries to Victorian mansions, with a few aggressively average $4,700 apartments sprinkled among them to keep us grounded.
    — Nora DeLigter, Curbed, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Documentaries are sprinkled throughout other sections of TIFF, including Galas, Special Presentations, and Wavelengths.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of sprinkle
Noun
  • Two Plössl eyepieces provided different magnifications, and there was also a red-dot finderscope and a manual equatorial mount with slow-motion cables.
    — Damian Peach, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Typically, these dots are used in advanced solar cells, bio-imaging, and ultra-high-definition displays.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of dot
Verb
  • The toes of the woman who wore it must have been stained red.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Improperly Drying Flammable Items Drying clothes stained with any type of chemical stains such as gasoline, paint thinner, or acetone is a hazard.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of stain
Noun
  • For millions of people with geographic atrophy, the speck in their vision is far more literal and can eventually lead to blindness.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Pay close attention to where leaves meet the stem, the underside of leaves, and within the petals for any movement or tiny specks.
    — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of speck
Verb
  • Just offshore from Ambergris Caye, Belize’s largest island, the Caribbean Sea takes on a mesmerizing, almost marbled quality.
    — Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Veining helps marbled white quartz countertops adopt the look of real Calacatta marble.
    — Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 30 June 2026
Definition of marble
Noun
  • The next morning, a galaxy of itchy red bumps and blotches stretched from my shoulder to my hip.
    — Ben Crair, New Yorker, 31 July 2026
  • Verticillium wilt causes similar blotches and yellowing.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2026
Definition of blotch
Verb
  • Our experts suggest using salt and pepper and adding herbs, spices, or citrus.
    — Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The typical guests were generally older couples, average age somewhere around 55-65, peppered here and there with larger groups of friends or families.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026
Definition of pepper

Browse Nearby Words

dapperness
dapple
dappled
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Cite this Entry

“Dapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dapple. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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