1
as in spraying
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on
a hillside dotted with wildflowers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
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
-
The Fort Worth Aviation Museum suffered damages on every single plane at their facility, and hail broke through their exhibit building, sprinkling insulation onto the entire gallery.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Dosunmu filled the bill, peppering the Nuggets with floaters, drives and 3s to carry the Minnesota offense.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Fragrant blooms cover plants in spring, with repeat blooming through summer and fall, peppering the air with their distinctive clove-like scent.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Once the structure is built, consider painting or staining the wood to both ensure the material's long-term integrity and enhance the overall look.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 May 2026
-
Porcelain options tend to resist staining better than other materials.—
K.H. Koehler,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dotting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dotting. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
