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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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
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Recent Examples of dapple
Dallas News, 9 May 2022
Piglet is a Chihuahua-dachshund mix, with a genetic condition called double dapple that causes eyesight and hearing difficulties.
—Susan Dunne, courant.com, 29 Jan. 2022
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2025
His skeleton is well preserved, his bones dappled with gooey-looking sediment.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dapple
Noun
While out on walks in Dallas’ Uptown, people often stop Alison Roche to ask about her brown, dapple, floppy-eared dachshund.
—Dallas News, 9 May 2022
Piglet is a Chihuahua-dachshund mix, with a genetic condition called double dapple that causes eyesight and hearing difficulties.
—Susan Dunne, courant.com, 29 Jan. 2022
Verb
There are some bright spots dappled throughout the second season in scenes that mostly have nothing to do with religion whatsoever.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2025
His skeleton is well preserved, his bones dappled with gooey-looking sediment.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dapple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dapple
Noun
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But right now, nearly every fleck of AI folly that’s risen to the top has been utter dreck.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
28 Jan. 2026
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The remaining scenes draw on familiar teenage horror tropes, with flecks of fresh insight.—
Natalia Winkelman,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Brush top of crust with egg, then sprinkle remaining ⅓ cup sliced almonds over in a thin layer.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
For powder, dampen the fabric and then sprinkle powder on each stain.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Lindholm has gotten better at releasing his between-the-dots one-timer.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Pink hearts and white dots on a nude base are the stars of this nail look.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Wearing kitchen gloves to keep your hands from staining, knead 7 oz.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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In testing on human teeth that were artificially stained with tea and coffee, the researchers found that a total of four hours of brushing showed visible whitening, while 12 total hours of brushing led to teeth that were nearly 50% whiter than those in a control group.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The company’s share of its agreement with California — $55 million — is barely a speck on its balance sheet; revenue for Alphabet, Google’s parent company, topped $102 billion in its most recent quarterly earnings report.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Volcanic specks mushroom up from topaz seas, like a real estate brochure for The Man With The Golden Gun.—
Tristan Rutherford,
Robb Report,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Prime rib is a desirable cut of beef, known for its rich flavor and marbling from fat.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
15 Jan. 2026
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Private lessons in the art of Ebru, the Ottoman art of marbling, are also available upon request.—
Jackie Caradonio,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Dec. 2025
Noun
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These blotches are fairly plant friendly and produce what is known as algal leaf spot.—
Brian Bell,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Jan. 2026
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Leaves may show blotches and mottled coloring and fruit may remain partially green and irregularly shaped.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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All of the familiar tropes are there, from the numerous pop songs peppering the action (including one by Phil Collins, just to remind you of Miami Vice) to the profane banter between the two main characters to the endless fights, shootouts and chases to the colorful villain.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Jan. 2026
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Even as the snow continued to fall, Boston residents peppered the city’s 311 public service request board with reports of snowbound city streets.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dapple. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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