as in flecks
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 sprinkles
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 dapples
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
Calling on a Rolodex of guest stars (Caroline Polachek, Lorde, Daniel Caesar), Hynes dapples his scenes in golden lo-fi.
—
Pitchfork,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
The 155 guest rooms and suites, freshened up since their rock and roll days, have wood floors with the Hotel Chelsea monogram now inlaid; the sun dapples through ivory eyelet fabric on the windows; and the bathrooms are classically done with light and dark grey marble accentuated by bronze details.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
Calling on a Rolodex of guest stars (Caroline Polachek, Lorde, Daniel Caesar), Hynes dapples his scenes in golden lo-fi.
—
Pitchfork,
4 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dapples
Noun
-
Light streams through the frosted glass, catching flecks of dust.—
Ashley Andreou,
STAT,
22 June 2026
-
But flecks of green were visible throughout the stadium as Algeria fans made their presence known as well.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Use Cinnamon for Plants For outdoor plants, Guerrera sprinkles cinnamon on the soil to naturally kill fungus gnat larvae.—
Emily Hayes,
Martha Stewart,
12 June 2026
-
In honor of the Niners’ 80th season, the video takes us on a house tour through the decades that sprinkles their opponents’ objects in each room.—
Jayna Bardahl,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Flash frames, scratches and specks of dust pop up randomly on the screen.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
This looks like tiny black or reddish-brown specks that resemble coffee grounds.—
Emily Hayes,
Martha Stewart,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Prepare to be dazzled from Warsaw’s highest viewing terrace atop Varso Tower, which proudly dots the skyline, before eating your way through the innovative food halls that define the coolest neighborhoods.—
Kasia Dietz,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2026
-
Japanese linens top the bed, and designer furniture dots the living space.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Verticillium wilt causes similar blotches and yellowing.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 June 2026
-
Pine snakes can grow up to 56 inches in length, have black, brown, and russet scales with dark blotches along their backs, and are noted for having a pointed nose, which experts believe may help with burrowing.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
Verb
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When that protective finish gets damaged, the toilet actually stains easier and is harder to keep clean over time.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
24 May 2026
-
What Sacks doesn’t get is that by financing and diplomatically supporting Israel, our country makes the crimes of the Israeli government possible, which stains America’s reputation in the world and drains our Treasury.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Boy and Girl Scout troops can also work with Sticky Fingers to earn cooking and baking patches.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2026
-
People taking diuretics, beta-blockers or any transdermal medication patches should check with a doctor first since heat significantly increases drug absorption through the skin.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 June 2026
Verb
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From the moment that good Doctor Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany) spots the French frigate Acheron while jaunting across the Galapagos to the start of the funeral for the fallen crew of the Surprise is 20 minutes exactly.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
24 June 2026
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Robot spots faults ANYbotics’ quadruped robot ANYmal is demonstrating how autonomous inspection systems can improve industrial maintenance by combining mobility, sensing, and data analytics in challenging environments.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
22 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dapples.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dapples. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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