1
as in specks
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part
flooring tile that is brown with flecks of white
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in particles
a very small piece
wiped a fleck of cookie off his jacket
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sprinkles
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
to achieve the desired effect, fleck the canvas with paint simply by flicking the brush close to the surface
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flecks
Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
Using x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, scholars determined that the ancient off-white fluid was composed of calcite, huntite, and miniscule flecks of yellow orpiment, a highly toxic sulfide of arsenic that Egyptians also used in medicine to treat syphilis and malaria.
—News Desk, Artforum, 9 Mar. 2026
Jade feels calming yet luxurious, especially when paired with flecks of gold leaf.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026
Although other pests cause similar damage, thrips damage is often associate with numerous small flecks of dark green to black fecal matter.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026
The bit of glimmer is echoed in subtle flecks on the dancers’ shimmery white unitards.
—Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
That, plus distinct green (herbs) and black (pepper) flecks, made this contender feel higher-end, inspiring us to declare Trader Joe’s the best ranch dressing overall.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Feb. 2026
As Dracula, Jones is giddy and joyous with flecks of depravity bursting through as the plot expands to include his ethereal bond with Harker’s fiancée, Mina Murray (also Bleu).
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2026
López reportedly found flecks of gold while digging wild onions, sparking an early gold rush.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Annie Blackman, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
With toasted pastry flecks in a buttercream, chocolate ganache, and real pastry cream, this recipe does the pastry justice.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2026
The gentle, softening formula (one of its five ingredients is glycerin) cuts through multiple coats of polish and wipes away even the clingiest glitter flecks, all without stripping your nails of every last ounce of moisture.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
Berber carpet Berber is a type of loop pile carpet with flecks of color.
—Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
Using x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, scholars determined that the ancient off-white fluid was composed of calcite, huntite, and miniscule flecks of yellow orpiment, a highly toxic sulfide of arsenic that Egyptians also used in medicine to treat syphilis and malaria.
—News Desk, Artforum, 9 Mar. 2026
Jade feels calming yet luxurious, especially when paired with flecks of gold leaf.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026
Although other pests cause similar damage, thrips damage is often associate with numerous small flecks of dark green to black fecal matter.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026
The bit of glimmer is echoed in subtle flecks on the dancers’ shimmery white unitards.
—Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
That, plus distinct green (herbs) and black (pepper) flecks, made this contender feel higher-end, inspiring us to declare Trader Joe’s the best ranch dressing overall.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Feb. 2026
As Dracula, Jones is giddy and joyous with flecks of depravity bursting through as the plot expands to include his ethereal bond with Harker’s fiancée, Mina Murray (also Bleu).
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2026
López reportedly found flecks of gold while digging wild onions, sparking an early gold rush.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Verb
The glittery flecks catch the sun just-so, adding up to a low-key statement swimsuit.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
With toasted pastry flecks in a buttercream, chocolate ganache, and real pastry cream, this recipe does the pastry justice.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2026
The gentle, softening formula (one of its five ingredients is glycerin) cuts through multiple coats of polish and wipes away even the clingiest glitter flecks, all without stripping your nails of every last ounce of moisture.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flecks
Noun
-
Keep an eye out for tiny brown or orange specks, especially around door edges, undercarriage and seams.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Learning how to apply mascara correctly can level up your whole eye look—but without the proper technique, even the best mascara can leave you with clumps, smears, or black specks across your face.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The particles that make up these dark nebulae are of a finite size, and that size is extremely good at absorbing visible light.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Although extremely rare, a condition called rhabdomyolysis can occur when your kidneys are overwhelmed with particles from muscle breakdown and can cause permanent kidney damage.—
Brad Stulberg,
Outside,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But for every shirt bearing a slogan, there were ten cheeks covered in (biodegradable) glitter like the kind that Diggins sprinkles on her face before every race.—
Bill McKibben,
New Yorker,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Groff sprinkles this punchy, athletic syntax over a slew of intricate settings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The application required users to scan or take photos of their ID cards and take pictures of themselves by connecting dots using head or eye movements, which failed to provide equal access, the DOJ wrote.—
Emma Murphy,
Oklahoma Voice,
26 Mar. 2026
-
How many purple dots are in this image, really?—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In another part of the factory, a worker used a wooden stick, like a tongue compressor at a doctor’s office, to scrape excess bits of explosive out of the grooves inside each shell, ensuring that the base would screw on smoothly.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Even more concerning than the plastic bits in our organs is the chemicals that come with them.—
Shanna Swan,
New York Daily News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Every failure of the state now stains the turban as well as the uniform.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The piercing doesn't necessarily damage the trees, but their excrement, which is high in sugar, stains the trees and blocks photosynthesis, which eventually suffocates the trees, the researchers said.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Its purple black center was surrounded by blotches of varying shades and textures, raised or sunken at places.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Feb. 2026
-
These blotches are fairly plant friendly and produce what is known as algal leaf spot.—
Brian Bell,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
By this token, the politician who steals scraps of another’s rhetoric (even if the actual stealing is performed by speechwriters) is derided as if he had been found watching pornography.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Now that all of show business has sunk to Valerie’s level of scrounging for scraps, there’s no one better qualified to rally the troops.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flecks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flecks. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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