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

Healthy gums often have stippling, small, shallow grooves like an orange peel.3 Unhealthy gums are looser and darker than healthy gums. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 29 May 2025

As for the shape, the tapered tip and wide base make easy work of buffing, stippling, and blending creams or powders along every curve and contour of your face. —Sophia Panych, Allure, 15 May 2025

Noun

Anything that seems to catch her eye, anything droll or strange: for instance, a piece of driftwood resembling a human arm; a child’s sneaker washed clean and pale by the surf; a mollusk shell marked with hundreds of tiny stipples like spines. —Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2025

Next, take a small detail brush and carefully stipple on flecks of dark brown or black polish to create an eggshell-like motif. —Megan Decker, refinery29.com, 18 Mar. 2024

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