as in fleck
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part
the clouds threw dapples of shadow over the eerily quiet street
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to sprinkle
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
sunlight dappled the canopy of vines over our heads
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dapple
Dallas News, 9 May 2022
Piglet is a Chihuahua-dachshund mix, with a genetic condition called double dapple that causes eyesight and hearing difficulties.
—Susan Dunne, courant.com, 29 Jan. 2022
Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Feb. 2026
The day was otherwise cheerful; sunshine dappled through evergreen boughs.
—Scott Eden, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dapple
Noun
While out on walks in Dallas’ Uptown, people often stop Alison Roche to ask about her brown, dapple, floppy-eared dachshund.
—Dallas News, 9 May 2022
Piglet is a Chihuahua-dachshund mix, with a genetic condition called double dapple that causes eyesight and hearing difficulties.
—Susan Dunne, courant.com, 29 Jan. 2022
Verb
The bundle is painted with butter then toasted on a flattop until dappled.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Feb. 2026
The day was otherwise cheerful; sunshine dappled through evergreen boughs.
—Scott Eden, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dapple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dapple
Noun
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Its design, crafted by Russell Sage Studio, is meant to be an on-the-nose reflection of the distillery's famed product, with bronzy walls the color of its single malt, and a ceiling painted to look like barley, reflecting the morning dew with flecks of gold throughout.—
Alessandra Amodio,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Berber carpet Berber is a type of loop pile carpet with flecks of color.—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Spread mixture into prepared baking dish and sprinkle with queso fresco.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2026
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Amid more than a decade now without a Top 10 lottery pick (Justise Winslow was the last, at No, 10 in 2015), the Heat have found a way to remain competitive, with a few deep playoff runs sprinkled in.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The notation was curiously quaint, dots and curly tails swimming along like so many tadpoles.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
-
And, in order to keep the gas flowing and the data center dots connected, more and more pipe must plow into the ground.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Use a broom or stiff brush and focus on high-traffic or stained areas.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Focus on high-traffic or stained areas.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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What emerged was an omelet of ideal and epitomic shape—straight, proudly puffed, about six and a half inches long and two and a half inches wide, with squarish ends and neither a speck nor drop of oil or liquid egg anywhere around.—
Jeffrey Steingarten,
Vogue,
5 Apr. 2026
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Is that oblong speck an egg sac or a flake of dandruff?—
Tom Nichols,
The Atlantic,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This set has it all: dreamy marbling, gold accents, and idyllic flowers—oh, my!—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Prime rib is a desirable cut of beef, known for its rich flavor and marbling from fat.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This was a black one with blotches faintly outlined in pale yellow, a beautiful but deadly looking animal.—
Dr. C. E. Kuschel,
Outdoor Life,
9 Apr. 2026
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The eggs vary in color—from white to blue to brown—with speckles, blotches, and other markings and are also distinctive in shape.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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O’Leary’s just been peppering the house manager with questions about her business and admiring the replica of the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man that dominates the entryway.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2026
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The women had all read my book and eagerly peppered me with questions.—
Roxane Gay,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dapple. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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