1
as in flecks
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part
a dog with a single small blotch of black
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in defects
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing
that cell tower is another blotch on the landscape
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in dots
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
my pen leaked and blotched my shirt pocket
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of blotches
Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2025
This fungal disease appears as gray blotches on the bark, eventually developing into sunken cankers.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
The belly is tan or gray with dark blotches.
—Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 17 Sep. 2025
Gopher snakes tend to be tan-colored with large square brown blotches or saddles along their backs and smaller gray spots on their sides.
—Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
Photos show the Maratus australis spider, which has an intricate pattern of blue and brown blotches edged with bright teal and red-orange stripes.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2025
This fungal disease appears as gray blotches on the bark, eventually developing into sunken cankers.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
The belly is tan or gray with dark blotches.
—Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 17 Sep. 2025
Gopher snakes tend to be tan-colored with large square brown blotches or saddles along their backs and smaller gray spots on their sides.
—Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blotches
Noun
-
Nice vanilla bean flecks and round, fatty flavor with only the subtlest hint of coconut.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Oct. 2025
-
And Abrams-Draine still managed to emerge with just a few flecks of soot after getting thrown in the fire last season, picking off Justin Herbert in a loss to the Chargers and establishing himself as a building block in a spot start.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The filing cites past crashes, including a fatal 2009 FedEx MD-11 crash in Tokyo, and alleges similar design flaws or defects in Boeing’s MD-11 may have caused or contributed to the November 4 crash.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Over 830,000 Peloton Bike+ units have been recalled for seat post defects that can cause falls and injuries.—
Amber Brenza,
Health,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Rather than the stiff alien chitchat that dots his own screenplays, the characters in The Favourite trade the witty, venomous bon mots of The Great creator Tony McNamara.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The $3,211 per month maintenance fees cover a part-time doorman and a fitness studio, while the location provides easy access to Madison Square Park plus all the shopping and dining that dots the area.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Microcalcifications appear as white specks and may indicate cancer in some cases.—
Lindsey Leake,
NBC news,
3 Jan. 2026
-
There were also no visible specks of spices.—
Eddie Fontanez,
AZCentral.com,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Season 5 continues that trend as the multi-dimensional Carson family tackles topics including scars left by absent parents, scars created by present parents, and following your dreams through all of it.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Fraxel can improve the skin’s overall appearance, addressing everything from uneven tone and dullness to age spots to acne scars and wrinkles.—
Whitney Perry,
Glamour,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Much like Knives Out, the movie takes a much more lighthearted approach and sprinkles humor throughout.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
15 Dec. 2025
-
The shareable treat features Galactic Brownie ice cream, fudge drizzle, M&Ms candies, and Halloween sprinkles atop a double fudge brownie crust.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Additionally, with pill fatigue on the rise, patches provide an easy alternative.—
Emily Burns,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The biggest blue patches in the map are around Charlottesville, Danville, Lynchburg, Staunton, Richmond, Fredericksburg, Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Dale City, Bull Run, Winchester and Arlington.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The girl had bite marks from alligators on her head and stomach, according to the Herald’s archives.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Trump at times expressed exasperation with voters who have given him low marks on his stewardship of the country.—
Alicia Diaz,
Fortune,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blotches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blotches. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share