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
Italy is not a monolith, but is made up of many tiny, charming towns, glamorous cities, and villages dotting the map along the way.
—
Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 4 May 2026
Traci Park won the Los Angeles City Council’s 11th District seat in 2022 on a promise to clean up the rising number of homeless encampments dotting the affluent Westside district.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Umbrellas are dotting the viewing area as a Marine band entertains guests.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
And some nail artists use a dotting tool or a thin nail brush dipped into the thick gel to fashion their dew-like beads.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 27 Apr. 2026
Along the trail, watch for wildlife, barns dotting the countryside, and scenic river overlooks.
—Robin Pfeifer, Midwest Living, 23 Apr. 2026
The crime scene stretched across multiple city blocks, with dozens of blue and yellow evidence markers dotting the pavement.
—CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Clean Mirrors If there are fingerprints and toothpaste remnants dotting your mirror, grab a Swiffer, glass cleaner, and a microfiber cloth.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026
To recreate at home, use varying sizes of dotting tools, making sure to let each layer dry before applying the next.
—Georgia Day, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2026
Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 4 May 2026
Traci Park won the Los Angeles City Council’s 11th District seat in 2022 on a promise to clean up the rising number of homeless encampments dotting the affluent Westside district.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Umbrellas are dotting the viewing area as a Marine band entertains guests.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
And some nail artists use a dotting tool or a thin nail brush dipped into the thick gel to fashion their dew-like beads.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 27 Apr. 2026
Along the trail, watch for wildlife, barns dotting the countryside, and scenic river overlooks.
—Robin Pfeifer, Midwest Living, 23 Apr. 2026
The crime scene stretched across multiple city blocks, with dozens of blue and yellow evidence markers dotting the pavement.
—CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Clean Mirrors If there are fingerprints and toothpaste remnants dotting your mirror, grab a Swiffer, glass cleaner, and a microfiber cloth.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026
To recreate at home, use varying sizes of dotting tools, making sure to let each layer dry before applying the next.
—Georgia Day, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dotting
Verb
-
Aerosol insecticides also show only limited success, as more midges emerge after spraying.—
Eva Flowe
May 8,
Charlotte Observer,
8 May 2026
-
Williams bought his on the TikTok shop, and chose it because it was advertised as spraying quickly.—
Rebecca Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
For casseroles, cover tightly with foil and return to the oven until the rice is tender, sprinkling with a splash of water or broth if the casserole seems dry.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
7 May 2026
-
Planting a clover lawn is as easy as sprinkling topsoil over an even distribution of seeds, followed by watering.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The charm offensive was benefited Rubio peppering in a number of jokes during his hourlong appearance.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
7 May 2026
-
Irby filmed private workouts with Murdock, photographing his wingspan and 10-inch hands, and peppering college recruiting and coaching staffs with that data.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Leave enough room to mow around the tree, cut it back each season, and make any repairs to your fence, such as staining or board replacement.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
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Sometimes the warning sign is subtle staining — especially yellow or brown discoloration on walls or ceilings.—
Ryan Brennan
May 8,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dotting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dotting. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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