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
Marci Robin, Allure, 25 May 2026
The Golden Knights are great between the dots and, clearly, in between the Avs’ ears.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 23 May 2026
Blue Dot Fever symptoms include a visible rash of unsold Ticketmaster seats (shown as blue dots on the seat maps), an artist’s red face from the embarrassment of having to cancel shows, and disappointed fans.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
The dots are not raised or itchy and are not considered a rash.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 21 May 2026
The challenge is to arrange those dots so that as many pairs as possible sit exactly one unit apart.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 May 2026
And when those dots don’t connect, supervisors default to generic coaching—empathy training, one-size-fits-all rubrics, refresher courses and broad group sessions that aren’t tied to what’s actually happening on the floor.
—Brian Tuite, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Draw some dots on a sheet of paper.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 19 May 2026
Connecting the dots, 17 of our cores formed a line across the Sudanese Nile valley.
—Geoff Emberling, The Conversation, 19 May 2026
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
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
Noun
Her oval nails are painted in a khaki base coat with big, blue, swirly dots.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 25 May 2026
The Golden Knights are great between the dots and, clearly, in between the Avs’ ears.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 23 May 2026
Blue Dot Fever symptoms include a visible rash of unsold Ticketmaster seats (shown as blue dots on the seat maps), an artist’s red face from the embarrassment of having to cancel shows, and disappointed fans.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
The dots are not raised or itchy and are not considered a rash.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 21 May 2026
The challenge is to arrange those dots so that as many pairs as possible sit exactly one unit apart.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 May 2026
And when those dots don’t connect, supervisors default to generic coaching—empathy training, one-size-fits-all rubrics, refresher courses and broad group sessions that aren’t tied to what’s actually happening on the floor.
—Brian Tuite, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Draw some dots on a sheet of paper.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 19 May 2026
Connecting the dots, 17 of our cores formed a line across the Sudanese Nile valley.
—Geoff Emberling, The Conversation, 19 May 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
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
-
The light had a wintry grain, with flecks of color suspended in it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Vermiculite, a fine, puffed, gold flecks mica, which helps with drainage.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The dishwasher sprays smaller amounts of water over a longer period while relying on soaking and efficient circulation rather than intense heat and pressure.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
28 May 2026
-
The violent collision sprays a jet of electrons, positrons, and other particles down into a cloud at a random angle.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Pastry chef Sahar Shomali, Kouzeh’s owner, sprinkles her version with black and white sesame seeds, cumin and fresh dill.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
Most astronomers now agree that each of these minuscule crimson specks—which bear a striking resemblance to enormous, faraway stars—actually has a burgeoning black hole at its center.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
27 May 2026
-
As in Kourliandski’s quartet, specks and splatters of sound are interspersed with silences.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
18 May 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
-
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
-
Eats Beat columnist Bud Kennedy covered a busy month of Fort Worth-area restaurant news in May, from beloved institutions closing to fresh brunch spots opening.—
Ryan J. Rusak,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 June 2026
-
Illinois lawmakers voted to legalize sports betting, allowing a Chicago casino, slot machines at both city airports, casinos in the south suburbs, Waukegan, Rockford, Danville and Williamson County, slot machines at horse racing tracks and spots betting at casinos and tracks.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Soon, red blotches were sprouting on his skin.—
Mary Beth Sheridan,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
-
These grow to form blotches that have lighter and darker zones appearing as irregular concentric rings that grow throughout the season until the entire leaf turns black and dies.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Every failure of the state now stains the turban as well as the uniform.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dots. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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