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
The mention of Good and Pretti in the lyrics triggered a roar from the crowd, already dotting the arena with phones lights.
—
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Depending on how late winter goes, the Meriden Daffodil Festival on May 2 and 3 may not be bursting with fresh daffodils dotting the historic Hubbard Park.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2026
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
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Depending on how late winter goes, the Meriden Daffodil Festival on May 2 and 3 may not be bursting with fresh daffodils dotting the historic Hubbard Park.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dotting
Verb
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Stults recommends vacuuming first, wiping with a paper towel, then spraying and wiping with a cleaner.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
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Both experts suggest tackling odors with white vinegar, too, either while cleaning or spraying it in the air.—
Lori Keong,
Architectural Digest,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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To add chia seeds to your diet, try sprinkling them over your oatmeal or yogurt parfait.—
Carrie Madormo,
Verywell Health,
2 Apr. 2026
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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
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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Studies have found that embarrassment around menstruation remains common, with many girls reporting anxiety about leaks, staining or being noticed by peers.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
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So, Navon and her husband undertook a full restoration, sanding and staining them a honey-oak hue that warms up the home from the ground up.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dotting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dotting. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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