as in flecks
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in sprinkles
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dots
Katherine Packert Burke, Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Deer print nails give classic polka dots a more rustic, fanciful feel as the precise dots are replaced with freehand splotches.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 28 Jan. 2026
Beneath these arcs, the single-file dots invite tight playing.
—Olivia Giovetti, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Small, raised rubber dots cover the toe and forefoot, then repeat in clustered groupings along the sides.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 27 Jan. 2026
Stepping out on Monday, January 26, the Babygirl actress stunned in a long-sleeve orange maxi dress covered in black and white textured dots that made for quite the optical illusion.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 27 Jan. 2026
No tin-foil hat needed to connect those dots.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
Filmmakers, former journalists, brand creatives, strategists, and producers have been steadily connecting the dots between narrative craft and business outcomes.
—Jordan P. Kelley, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Similar to the show, the comic features a pair of detectives trying to connect the dots behind a strain of explosive deaths, and everyone who’s spontaneously combusted has The Beauty.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 22 Jan. 2026
Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 28 Oct. 2025
Rather than the stiff alien chitchat that dots his own screenplays, the characters in The Favourite trade the witty, venomous bon mots of The Great creator Tony McNamara.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
The $3,211 per month maintenance fees cover a part-time doorman and a fitness studio, while the location provides easy access to Madison Square Park plus all the shopping and dining that dots the area.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
In Powderhorn Park, protesters stream endlessly across the frozen lake, Bruegelian black dots on the flat, white ice.
—Katherine Packert Burke, Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Deer print nails give classic polka dots a more rustic, fanciful feel as the precise dots are replaced with freehand splotches.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 28 Jan. 2026
Beneath these arcs, the single-file dots invite tight playing.
—Olivia Giovetti, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Small, raised rubber dots cover the toe and forefoot, then repeat in clustered groupings along the sides.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 27 Jan. 2026
Stepping out on Monday, January 26, the Babygirl actress stunned in a long-sleeve orange maxi dress covered in black and white textured dots that made for quite the optical illusion.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 27 Jan. 2026
No tin-foil hat needed to connect those dots.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
Filmmakers, former journalists, brand creatives, strategists, and producers have been steadily connecting the dots between narrative craft and business outcomes.
—Jordan P. Kelley, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Similar to the show, the comic features a pair of detectives trying to connect the dots behind a strain of explosive deaths, and everyone who’s spontaneously combusted has The Beauty.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
Barnett dots up Knight for a 57-yard catch-and-run.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 28 Oct. 2025
Rather than the stiff alien chitchat that dots his own screenplays, the characters in The Favourite trade the witty, venomous bon mots of The Great creator Tony McNamara.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
The $3,211 per month maintenance fees cover a part-time doorman and a fitness studio, while the location provides easy access to Madison Square Park plus all the shopping and dining that dots the area.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dots
Noun
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The remaining scenes draw on familiar teenage horror tropes, with flecks of fresh insight.—
Natalia Winkelman,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Even just sitting in a humid cabinet can lead to flecks of rust on a cast-iron pan.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Pretti steps between them, and the officer sprays him with a chemical spray.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
25 Jan. 2026
-
The agent sprays Pretti with a chemical irritant and drags him to his knees as Pretti pulls at the backpack of the other bystander, potentially reaching for a water bottle.—
Thomas Bordeaux,
CNN Money,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Much like Knives Out, the movie takes a much more lighthearted approach and sprinkles humor throughout.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
15 Dec. 2025
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The shareable treat features Galactic Brownie ice cream, fudge drizzle, M&Ms candies, and Halloween sprinkles atop a double fudge brownie crust.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Also known as sunspots, solar lentigines, or liver spots, age spots are additional specks and bits of pigment caused by excessive sun exposure.—
Essence,
Essence,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Volcanic specks mushroom up from topaz seas, like a real estate brochure for The Man With The Golden Gun.—
Tristan Rutherford,
Robb Report,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Instead, each child interacts only with a sophisticated artificial intelligence, which peppers them with questions about everything from mathematics to philosophy.—
Niral Shah,
The Conversation,
15 Dec. 2025
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Instead, the original body features a patina that peppers its exterior and is a point of celebration, preserved and maintained for true uniqueness.—
Peter Nelson,
Robb Report,
3 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Enterprising group member Freddy (Delaney Quinn) spots the paperback Josh was reading in the trash bin, spattered in blood.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Jan. 2026
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Their 4-3 win on Tuesday over the New York Rangers, a team that essentially waved the white flag last week, kept the Kings in a six-team mix for what could be three Western Conference spots up for grabs.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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These blotches are fairly plant friendly and produce what is known as algal leaf spot.—
Brian Bell,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Jan. 2026
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Photos show the Maratus australis spider, which has an intricate pattern of blue and brown blotches edged with bright teal and red-orange stripes.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This mixture attacks stains a bit stronger than the water solution.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026
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Season with salt and lots of pepper and bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking often, until the turmeric stains the mixture a wonderful golden color and the liquid starts to steam, about 3 minutes.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dots. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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