mottled

adjective

mot·​tled ˈmä-tᵊld How to pronounce mottled (audio)
Synonyms of mottlednext
: marked with spots of different colors : having blotches of two or more colors
mottled tree bark
a mottled complexion
the bird's mottled plumage
A combination of red and blue pigments in the shell of a live lobster creates a mottled camouflage of indeterminate hue that blends in with the ocean floor.Kenneth Chang

Examples of mottled in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Crowson also shot his first mottled duck. Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 18 Dec. 2025 How to diagnose: Oldest leaves may look mottled and pale green to yellow. Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Nov. 2025 Gauguin’s mottled ceramic heads and Rodin’s figures pitched between ruin and divinity both come to mind. Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2025 Museum-caliber furniture and objects, major artworks from François Pinault’s personal collection, yards of colorful marble and bespoke, mottled carpeting add up to a sumptuous environment reminiscent of the home of a serious collector — and fiercely chic fashion plate. Miles Socha, Footwear News, 18 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mottled

Word History

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mottled was in 1676

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Cite this Entry

“Mottled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mottled. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

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