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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1
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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
Cathy Nelson, Health, 13 Mar. 2026
Think bold, eye-catching florals, classy polka-dots, and summer-ready gingham for as low as $15.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 2026
Or needles on the tips of branches turn brown and die, and tiny black dots appear on dead needles and stems.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
The large digit display features a visual flow rate indicator in the form of a row of LED dots indicating grams per second.
—Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Mar. 2026
Don't the dots remind you of olives?
—Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 7 Mar. 2026
Citizens can help connect the dots and influence the science.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
Last year, something damaged my chives and garlic, starting with odd rows of white dots on the leaves.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2026
My sister’s eyes were bloodshot, and her skin was speckled with tiny, red dots.
—Des Moines Register, 2 Mar. 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
These dots in your vision are generally harmless, but can be cause for concern in certain circumstances.
—Cathy Nelson, Health, 13 Mar. 2026
Think bold, eye-catching florals, classy polka-dots, and summer-ready gingham for as low as $15.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 2026
Or needles on the tips of branches turn brown and die, and tiny black dots appear on dead needles and stems.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
The large digit display features a visual flow rate indicator in the form of a row of LED dots indicating grams per second.
—Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Mar. 2026
Don't the dots remind you of olives?
—Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 7 Mar. 2026
Citizens can help connect the dots and influence the science.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
Last year, something damaged my chives and garlic, starting with odd rows of white dots on the leaves.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2026
My sister’s eyes were bloodshot, and her skin was speckled with tiny, red dots.
—Des Moines Register, 2 Mar. 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
-
Using x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, scholars determined that the ancient off-white fluid was composed of calcite, huntite, and miniscule flecks of yellow orpiment, a highly toxic sulfide of arsenic that Egyptians also used in medicine to treat syphilis and malaria.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Jade feels calming yet luxurious, especially when paired with flecks of gold leaf.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Orange County sprays herbicides to eradicate vegetation in flood control channels.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The man asks for his Shalimar perfume, sprays himself and lies down on the floor.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Groff sprinkles this punchy, athletic syntax over a slew of intricate settings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Much like Knives Out, the movie takes a much more lighthearted approach and sprinkles humor throughout.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
15 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The specks of light are small bombs, each carrying up to 11 pounds of explosives, which are released at high altitude from the head of the missile before raining down indiscriminately over a wide area.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
-
These generally appear as white bumps or specks that encrust the stems, branches, and undersides of leaves and suck the sap.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
At a transit station, Min Ho spots Kitty on a train, bags in tow.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Your quick mind spots what to improve, and your confidence helps others get on board.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Its purple black center was surrounded by blotches of varying shades and textures, raised or sunken at places.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Feb. 2026
-
These blotches are fairly plant friendly and produce what is known as algal leaf spot.—
Brian Bell,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Every failure of the state now stains the turban as well as the uniform.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The piercing doesn't necessarily damage the trees, but their excrement, which is high in sugar, stains the trees and blocks photosynthesis, which eventually suffocates the trees, the researchers said.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dots. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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