stipple

1 of 2

verb

stip·​ple ˈsti-pəl 

stippled; stippling ˈsti-p(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to engrave by means of dots and flicks

2

a

: to make by small short touches (as of paint or ink) that together produce an even or softly graded shadow

b

: to apply (something, such as paint) by repeated small touches

3

: speckle, fleck

stippler

ˈsti-p(ə-)lər 

noun

stipple

2 of 2

noun

: production of gradation of light and shade in graphic art by stippling small points, larger dots, or longer strokes

also : an effect produced in this way

Synonyms

Verb

• dot
• sprinkle
• stain
• marble
• dye

Examples of stipple in a Sentence

Verb

the sunlight falling through the lace curtain stippled her face

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Inside the passage, the lips of water beyond my torchlight are coal black, stippled with freckles of sediment. —Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025

The yellowing, eventually turning to brown, starts with stippling or tiny dots on the foliage where mites have pierced the leaves’ epidermis with their stylets or sucking mouthparts. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025

Noun

This album might’ve broken trap music for good, melting it into a puddle of bleats and hiccups that hit like ASMR whispers and stipple sounds. —Pitchfork, 30 Sep. 2025

Squash bugs leave white stipples, or dots, on foliage, followed by yellowing leaves. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 31 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Dutch stippelen to spot, dot

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1762, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1837, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stipple

• cripple
• nipple
• ripple
• tipple
• triple
• participle
• schizotypal

Kids Definition

stipple

verb

stip·​ple

ˈstip-əl

stippled; stippling

-(ə-)liŋ

: to apply (as paint or ink) by repeated small touches

stipple noun

stippler

-(ə-)lər

noun