as in colored
marked with spots
a dotted tie that didn't go with his striped shirt at all
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in flecked
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 dotted
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
Cleaning up things, making sure everything’s dotted.
—Benjamin Royer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
The dotted paths turn an abstract fact — Earth's viewpoint changing as planets move along their orbits — into something immediate and visual.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2026
The most dominant sides will frequently play games that see them above the dotted line — as shown by Arsenal and Manchester City in particular.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Still, until Harbaugh signs on the dotted line with the Giants, nothing is guaranteed.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Plus, each week includes a full dotted page for notes.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 6 Jan. 2026
The only thing these dominoes have in common with the black-and-white dotted ones used for the game is their rectangular shape.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 15 Dec. 2025
In this chart, only changes to the intensity [black curve] greater than a certain amount [dotted horizontal lines] set off an event message [blue or red, depending on the direction of the change].
—Christoph Posch, IEEE Spectrum, 26 Nov. 2025
Kinsey Gidick, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026
The town is dotted with a few gas stations, a senior center and a short Main Street that is home to the public school.
—Kayla Branch, The Frontier, 12 Jan. 2026
Scenes will take place in a few spots dotted along the French Riviera, as well as a Paris hotel, according to Variety.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 12 Jan. 2026
Cooper Flagg jerseys dotted the arena.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
While occasionally insufferably hot during summer’s peak, dotted across 930 miles of coastline, Sicily’s beaches are positively lovely from spring to late autumn.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
The practice rink structure is currently dotted with forklifts, building materials and other tools.
—Chris Johnston, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Not as a true contender, but a playoff team that refuses to fold, unlike so many of the cupcakes that dotted the Patriots’ regular-season schedule.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
People are drawn in by the nostalgic feel of its cityscape dotted with neon signs and public murals.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
And when Bichette puts on another team’s cap and signs on their dotted line, the Red Sox will pivot again.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
Cleaning up things, making sure everything’s dotted.
—Benjamin Royer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
The dotted paths turn an abstract fact — Earth's viewpoint changing as planets move along their orbits — into something immediate and visual.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2026
The most dominant sides will frequently play games that see them above the dotted line — as shown by Arsenal and Manchester City in particular.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Still, until Harbaugh signs on the dotted line with the Giants, nothing is guaranteed.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Plus, each week includes a full dotted page for notes.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 6 Jan. 2026
The only thing these dominoes have in common with the black-and-white dotted ones used for the game is their rectangular shape.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 15 Dec. 2025
In this chart, only changes to the intensity [black curve] greater than a certain amount [dotted horizontal lines] set off an event message [blue or red, depending on the direction of the change].
—Christoph Posch, IEEE Spectrum, 26 Nov. 2025
Verb
Massignac, France Occupying a 13th-century château that’s two hours by car from Bordeaux, Domaine des Etangs, Auberge Collection has seven tranquil ponds stocked with carp, perch, and pike dotted across its 2,500-acre grounds.
—Kinsey Gidick, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026
The town is dotted with a few gas stations, a senior center and a short Main Street that is home to the public school.
—Kayla Branch, The Frontier, 12 Jan. 2026
Scenes will take place in a few spots dotted along the French Riviera, as well as a Paris hotel, according to Variety.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 12 Jan. 2026
Cooper Flagg jerseys dotted the arena.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
While occasionally insufferably hot during summer’s peak, dotted across 930 miles of coastline, Sicily’s beaches are positively lovely from spring to late autumn.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
The practice rink structure is currently dotted with forklifts, building materials and other tools.
—Chris Johnston, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Not as a true contender, but a playoff team that refuses to fold, unlike so many of the cupcakes that dotted the Patriots’ regular-season schedule.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
People are drawn in by the nostalgic feel of its cityscape dotted with neon signs and public murals.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dotted
Adjective
-
Opt for warm-toned lights to help your space feel extra cozy, or choose multi-colored lights for a touch of nostalgic ‘90s charm.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The Smashing Machine actor wore a classic black tuxedo to the awards show, while his singer wife wore a gold-colored dress.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Watson’s relentless dribble-driving earned him nine trips to the line throughout a night sprinkled with spin moves and tough finishes with both hands.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Topping a Salad Avocado often tastes great cubed and sprinkled over your favorite salad.—
Kelly Burch,
Verywell Health,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This double-crust, old-fashioned pie may look ordinary on the outside, but when it's sliced, the inside reveals vibrant orange layers of sweet potatoes flecked with spices and sweetened with sugar and sorghum syrup.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
28 Dec. 2025
-
Halcyon, a mauve tone with turquoise shimmer, and Nymphaea, a magenta flecked with pink and lilac glitter.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
6 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
In short, the spotted lanternfly is a moth-like bug that's not supposed to be in the U.S.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
8 Jan. 2026
-
This photo, made with a remote camera and provided by the University of Arizona Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center, shows a spotted jaguar in southern Arizona, Nov. 2025.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Last week in Hartford, at least one person was knocked down by a vehicle and half a dozen were pepper-sprayed during a vigil for Good.—
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Just then, an immigration officer rolled down his window, extended his arm and sprayed a protester point-blank in the face with a chemical agent.—
Hayley Walker,
NBC news,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The results will vary depending on the fiber content of the socks and how badly they are stained.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Chicken thighs first absorb a garlicky, peppery spice marinade stained with turmeric to accentuate the golden crust.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Hire a charter and head out to the deep sea, rent a kayak from Bayou Adventure’s Rental Kiosk and test the waters on the bay side, or stay on land and reel in black drum and speckled trout from one of the island’s two piers or a folding chair on the beach.—
Kristy Christiansen,
Southern Living,
31 Dec. 2025
-
Even the linen neps, which give it a stylish, speckled appearance, are random, so no two pieces are identical.—
Katie Jackson,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Jennings peppered the Wildcats with precision passes for much of the first half, setting the tone with a lucrative trick play early into the contest.—
Kyle Kensing,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Jan. 2026
-
In this home, the designer peppered the living room with turquoise and lavender, while in the den (which opens to the main living area), a deeper teal and violet dominate.—
Zoe Gowen,
Southern Living,
29 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dotted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dotted. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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