1
as in spraying
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on
a hillside dotted with wildflowers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in sprinkling
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 dotting
Along the route, my father would point in disgust at the large Olympic-torch flames dotting the horizon and rising above the acres of palm trees flanking the highway.
—
Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
Instead, Carillo and Barnes recommend dotting a small amount of concealer on the darkest part of your undereye area and blending it in.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 19 Mar. 2026
With mostly sunny skies, lots of 70 degree highs will be dotting the Eastern Plains for Tuesday.
—Dave Aguilera, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
Large windows offered bright blue sea views as light poured in, with sunbathers dotting the sand below and the Cagarras Islands floating in green blobs on the horizon beyond.
—Laura French, TheWeek, 16 Mar. 2026
Set along the South Carolina coast, Charleston is famous for its cobblestone streets, pastel-colored row houses, Lowcountry cuisine, and old churches dotting the skyline.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 2026
Although most of the towns and villages around them are under de-facto Hezbollah control, Qlayaa — like other Christian, Sunni Muslim and Druze communities dotting the bucolic hills of Lebanon’s south — had taken a resolutely neutral position.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
About 2 million barrels a day of that will go to domestic refineries dotting the Red Sea coast.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
Once established, dandelions can take over, growing in cracks in sidewalks and patios and dotting your otherwise green lawn.
—Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 7 Mar. 2026
Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
Instead, Carillo and Barnes recommend dotting a small amount of concealer on the darkest part of your undereye area and blending it in.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 19 Mar. 2026
With mostly sunny skies, lots of 70 degree highs will be dotting the Eastern Plains for Tuesday.
—Dave Aguilera, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
Large windows offered bright blue sea views as light poured in, with sunbathers dotting the sand below and the Cagarras Islands floating in green blobs on the horizon beyond.
—Laura French, TheWeek, 16 Mar. 2026
Set along the South Carolina coast, Charleston is famous for its cobblestone streets, pastel-colored row houses, Lowcountry cuisine, and old churches dotting the skyline.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 2026
Although most of the towns and villages around them are under de-facto Hezbollah control, Qlayaa — like other Christian, Sunni Muslim and Druze communities dotting the bucolic hills of Lebanon’s south — had taken a resolutely neutral position.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
About 2 million barrels a day of that will go to domestic refineries dotting the Red Sea coast.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
Once established, dandelions can take over, growing in cracks in sidewalks and patios and dotting your otherwise green lawn.
—Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dotting
Verb
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Crews were spraying water on the flames.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
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Mixing a small amount of dish soap with water and spraying it on grasshoppers can kill them by damaging their outer layer.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Neutralize Trash Can Odors Cut odors from the kitchen trash by periodically sprinkling baking soda in as waste accumulates.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2026
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For instance, sprinkling cinnamon around entry points while also using a vinegar spray can help create a double barrier against ants attempting to infiltrate your home.—
Alexandra Kelly,
Martha Stewart,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Goldeneyes were the dominant side to start, peppering Osborne with shots early and outshooting the visitors 12-5 in the first period, but struggled to handle New York’s push in the second.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
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Dover-Sherborn/Weston came out with a major spark to start the third down 4-1, peppering Tigers goalie Jacob Dangel with eight shots in the first three minutes.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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There are a few options to deal with old brickwork, including cleaning and repairing the brick, painting or staining the brick, or even installing new siding or stucco over the brick.—
Timothy Dale,
The Spruce,
13 Mar. 2026
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Sealing your grout is a great way to prevent further staining and using a steam cleaner or steam mop can help to lift the stains.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dotting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dotting. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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