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
Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 17 Nov. 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
Julie Tremaine, People.com, 9 Mar. 2025
Venturing so close to the splattering surf that her tight-fitting jeans are dappled with wet.
—Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dapple
Noun
Gleaming spots caused by methane ice clouds in the planet's atmosphere dapple its lower half.
—Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 17 Nov. 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
Dakota appears to have dappled in acting before working on other creative ventures.
—Julie Tremaine, People.com, 9 Mar. 2025
Venturing so close to the splattering surf that her tight-fitting jeans are dappled with wet.
—Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dapple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dapple
Noun
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In any case, there are sure to be at least a few flecks of moss or lichen, gray or gray-green, on that side.—
Ted Updike,
Outdoor Life,
22 May 2025
-
The workmanship shows in the color and precision of the grout, the mottling of dark flecks, and the triangular pieces where the arches meet — details that give the façade a subliminal liveliness.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Then sprinkle cocoa powder on the top to balance the flavors.—
Bryce Jones,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 July 2025
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Today, the cenotes sprinkled across the Yucatán Peninsula are the perfect place to cool off during the heat of the day.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
12 July 2025
Noun
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There are three large exclamation marks at the end, with their dots dangling below them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
-
Polar's strap has a comfortable buckle connector and silicone dots to keep it in place.—
Adrienne So,
Wired News,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Police found items stained by blood in garbage bags in the living room closet.—
Kathryn Kovalenko,
Twin Cities,
9 July 2025
-
The most basic method for cleaning the toilet is to use a stiff-bristle toilet brush to physically scrub away any mineral buildup, biofilm, or staining.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 July 2025
Noun
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Maxine was a once little bitty speck of a thing who had a pretty rough start in life.—
TJ Macias,
Kansas City Star,
27 June 2025
-
All told, the specks of light captured in the image showcase about 10 million galaxies, or just 0.05% of the roughly 20 billion galaxies Rubin will image in the next decade.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
25 June 2025
Verb
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Original price: $109.99 Get Crocs' signature marbled look in a sneaker version with the Echo Storm marble clog.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2025
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The marbling itself is called shimofuri and makes for tender cuts of beef that melt in your mouth.—
Yukari Sakamoto,
AFAR Media,
12 June 2025
Noun
-
White blotches — the frostbitten tissue — swelled on the roof of his mouth, uvula and throat.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
2 July 2025
-
Verticillium wilt causes similar blotches and yellowing.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 June 2025
Verb
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Amazing parks pepper the entire country, but set your sights on the west coast and Manuel Antonio National Park, with its lovely beaches, or northwest of San José for Arenal Volcano National Park, where visitors can take in the park’s namesake dormant volcano and natural hot springs.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
8 July 2025
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In a format reminiscent of the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni lawsuits, text messages — some more suggestive than others — pepper the 46-page filing from L.A. attorney Jonathan J. Delshad.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dapple. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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