inkblot
noun
ink·blot
ˈiŋk-ˌblät 
variants
or ink blot
or ink-blot
1
: a blot of ink
2
: any of several cards showing blots of ink for use in psychological testing
also
: inkblot test
Examples of inkblot in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In many Stalin-era books, enemies of the state weren’t erased but effaced, their heads unceremoniously covered by inkblots.
—
Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
The blue check mark has long been a cultural inkblot of sorts.
—Avi Selk, Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2023
James Lee, the demented guy who was killed after taking hostages at the Discovery channel headquarters, is turning into quite an illuminating inkblot in the blogosphere.
—Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 2 Sep. 2010
The measure isn’t unlike the pain scale that doctors use to ask how patients feel, or the Rorschach inkblot that psychologists use to prompt subconscious feelings from their clients.
—Gabriela Riccardi, Quartz, 27 Dec. 2022
Artist David Thomas Smith created this image by making a mosaic of satellite images of China’s Three Gorges Dam and surroundings, creating a kind of remote-sensing inkblot.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 11 Feb. 2013
Bored joggers are looking at oil stains on cement like inkblot tests to keep their minds busy.
—Kevin Armstrong, WSJ, 5 Mar. 2021
Now another inkblot of feathers rose off the September sheet water, swirled for a moment as if gathering its wits, and streamed straight for the decoys.
—T. Edward Nickens, Field & Stream, 24 Sep. 2020
Critically, the brain remains intact after a primary blast injury, and the only potential sign of trauma is a faint inkblot of blood that may be spread across its surface.
—Rachel Lance, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Mar. 2020
Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
The blue check mark has long been a cultural inkblot of sorts.
—Avi Selk, Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2023
James Lee, the demented guy who was killed after taking hostages at the Discovery channel headquarters, is turning into quite an illuminating inkblot in the blogosphere.
—Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 2 Sep. 2010
The measure isn’t unlike the pain scale that doctors use to ask how patients feel, or the Rorschach inkblot that psychologists use to prompt subconscious feelings from their clients.
—Gabriela Riccardi, Quartz, 27 Dec. 2022
Artist David Thomas Smith created this image by making a mosaic of satellite images of China’s Three Gorges Dam and surroundings, creating a kind of remote-sensing inkblot.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 11 Feb. 2013
Bored joggers are looking at oil stains on cement like inkblot tests to keep their minds busy.
—Kevin Armstrong, WSJ, 5 Mar. 2021
Now another inkblot of feathers rose off the September sheet water, swirled for a moment as if gathering its wits, and streamed straight for the decoys.
—T. Edward Nickens, Field & Stream, 24 Sep. 2020
Critically, the brain remains intact after a primary blast injury, and the only potential sign of trauma is a faint inkblot of blood that may be spread across its surface.
—Rachel Lance, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Mar. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inkblot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near inkblot
Cite this Entry
“Inkblot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inkblot. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
inkblot
noun
ink·blot
ˈiŋk-ˌblät
: any of several plates showing blots of ink for use in psychological testing
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