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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of dotting
Start with a clear glitter base, then use a dotting tool to create white daisies with pink and orange centers.
—
Rebecca Norris, InStyle, 8 June 2026
Among the historic attractions dotting Route 66, there may be none more hapless and ill fated as the Aztec Hotel in Monrovia.
—Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
On her fingertips were little ladybugs dotting her nails, courtesy of nail artist Elle Gerstein.
—Diana Tsui, Footwear News, 24 May 2026
The 164-acre Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park has vibrant gardens, almost five miles of walking trails, and a lovely pond, with both permanent and rotating art installations dotting the expansive property.
—Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026
Create a Hummingbird Buffet Rather than dotting single specimens around your garden, plant a hummingbird highway.
—Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2026
And the mini-chains that cater to them — Gorjana, Solidcore, Vuori — are following them uptown, dotting stretches of Second and Third Avenue between 72nd and 86th Street.
—Anne Kadet, Curbed, 12 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
Rebecca Norris, InStyle, 8 June 2026
Among the historic attractions dotting Route 66, there may be none more hapless and ill fated as the Aztec Hotel in Monrovia.
—Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
On her fingertips were little ladybugs dotting her nails, courtesy of nail artist Elle Gerstein.
—Diana Tsui, Footwear News, 24 May 2026
The 164-acre Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park has vibrant gardens, almost five miles of walking trails, and a lovely pond, with both permanent and rotating art installations dotting the expansive property.
—Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026
Create a Hummingbird Buffet Rather than dotting single specimens around your garden, plant a hummingbird highway.
—Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2026
And the mini-chains that cater to them — Gorjana, Solidcore, Vuori — are following them uptown, dotting stretches of Second and Third Avenue between 72nd and 86th Street.
—Anne Kadet, Curbed, 12 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dotting
Verb
-
Maintain its wariness of people by throwing a small object at it, making a loud noise or spraying it with a hose.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
17 June 2026
-
Cabrera walked the first two batters of the fifth inning, spraying uncompetitive pitches all around the zone, then got Colorado’s Edouard Julien to strike out looking.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Clean the oven racks separately by spraying them with white vinegar and sprinkling them with baking soda.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
13 June 2026
-
During Tuesday’s practice, which was the first of three on-field sessions this week, the Dolphins opened up the play-action game during the first 11-on-11 period by sprinkling in some running plays.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
After doing a little drill work, Lewis spent the rest of the time peppering Morneau with questions.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
12 June 2026
-
The meeting went off the rails when Pelley, a 50-year veteran journalist, began peppering Bilton with questions and accused Weiss of destroying the show’s sterling reputation.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Natural stone can be more involved; it should be sealed before grouting and can require upkeep to protect against staining.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
12 June 2026
-
Keep in mind that heat can also contribute to staining.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dotting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dotting. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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