as in sprinkling
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
sunlight dappled the canopy of vines over our heads
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Recent Examples of dappling
In my mind, that always meant at least a plane ride's worth of travel—me in safari gear, sunlight dappling through the canopy, and swinging vines overhead.
—
Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2025
Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dappling
Verb
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Cameras caught a clergy member sprinkling a little holy water on the Acrisure Stadium turf about two hours before kickoff on Sunday.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Jan. 2026
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In the second season of Andor, Tony Gilroy continued his indictment of rising fascism, sprinkling the sci-fi tropes with grandstanding political drama, the impending doom of an action thriller, and a helping of French-resistance imagery, then tossing it all in a blender.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Burn scars dotting our state from Paradise to Pacific Palisades show clearly his failure to prioritize fire prevention.—
Brian Jones,
Oc Register,
6 Jan. 2026
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The city is in a valley, so nearly every building has a view—on this January morning, of fires dotting the hills and little, loud aircraft flying in all directions, like a mosquito swarm on a hot night.—
Gisela Salim-Peyer,
The Atlantic,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Holevich adds that cleaning these surfaces promptly will help prevent long-term staining and lingering odors.—
Kate Van Pelt,
The Spruce,
7 Jan. 2026
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Foods like tomato sauce and chocolate can cause staining if they aren't wiped up right away.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dappling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dappling. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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