Definition of dotnext
as in fleck
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part there was just a dot on the tablecloth where the food had spattered

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1
as in to spray
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on a hillside dotted with wildflowers

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in to sprinkle
to mark with small spots especially unevenly the practice of some chefs of positioning a small portion of food in the center and dotting the rest of the plate with sauce

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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 dot
Noun
Once launched, Eärendil-1 would deploy an 18-meter-wide steerable mirror to demonstrate that technological feat; anyone or anything in the path of its beam would see the satellite as a glaring dot shining up to four times brighter than a full moon. Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 16 July 2026 Text is entered by a user and overlaid within hundreds of moving dots in a short video animation. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 16 July 2026
Verb
Old and new stone houses dotted a hillside green with olive and citrus trees. Jane Arraf, NPR, 26 July 2026 If the drive into the city from the San Francisco Airport feels like a trip into the future (AI billboards dot the city, and the Waymos abound), the Huntington Hotel feels like a trip into the past. Jocelyn Silver, Vogue, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dot
Noun
  • One image of her right knee showed flecks of blue plastic that prosecutors said came from an inflatable pool Burke used to collect blood while dismembering her body.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2026
  • Someone unfamiliar with salt bread might even suspect a major baking error, seeing a questionably smooth croissant that entirely missed the lamination process, adorned with only a few flecks of salt acting as its saving grace.
    Candy Hom, AJC.com, 19 July 2026
Verb
  • No blood was visible, but one area glowed after being sprayed with Bluestar.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2026
  • One award-winning work used chalk powder mixed in water sprayed a la Jackson Pollock.
    ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026
Verb
  • Then, sprinkling in frequent, intentional movement throughout the workday.
    Jakob Roze, Health, 23 July 2026
  • Earlier this month, Godwin kicked off the Christian Name Tour, which will run through November and take him coast to coast — with come co-headline appearances with Dylan Gossett sprinkled in during August and September.
    Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 23 July 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
  • The typical guests were generally older couples, average age somewhere around 55-65, peppered here and there with larger groups of friends or families.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026
  • Usually, that meant simply shaking salt and pepper over the tomato slices.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 July 2026
Verb
  • The bronze is reportedly stained lipstick-pink from fans kissing it.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Ceiling tiles were stained and chipped throughout the main cook line in the restaurant located inside the kid-friendly entertainment center.
    Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026
Noun
  • Tucked into the foothills above Point Dome, the property is listed for a speck under $5 million.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 17 July 2026
  • Rather than waiting several years to look at the object through the VLT once more, Sutlieff, Bonse and their colleagues dove into older, archival imagery of the star system, looking for signs of their speck.
    Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • That evening, midnight-shift officers spotted the animal trotting on a residential street in the area and slowly pursued it in a patrol vehicle, some of which was shown in a short video clip the police department posted on social media Friday.
    Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 26 July 2026
  • As the league’s biggest stars gathered for the annual WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday, July 25, the Las Vegas Aces center — who is making her eighth WNBA All-Star Game appearance — was spotted with boyfriend Adebayo, 29.
    Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 26 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dot. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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