marbling

verb

Definition of marblingnext
present participle of marble
as in sprinkling
to mark with small spots especially unevenly marble the paper with several different dyes to get a striking effect

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 marbling The meat on the bones varies in thickness and, thanks to marbling and tough connective tissue, short ribs are ideal for slow cooking. — Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 12 Aug. 2026 To create marbling, run a table knife (or wooden skewer) through the batters in a swirling motion. — Martha Stewart, 20 June 2026 Additionally, unlike traditional bleaching which tends to give fabrics a flat look, Zero allows marbling. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 21 Apr. 2026 The lack of marbling, fat, and bone diminishes the beefy taste of these cuts. — Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2026 Prime rib is a desirable cut of beef, known for its rich flavor and marbling from fat. — Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 15 Jan. 2026 The result is a marbling effect that looks like mini fireworks. — Nicole Harris, Parents, 6 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for marbling
  1. sprinkling
  2. staining
  3. dotting
  4. dyeing
  5. spotting
  6. stippling
  7. flecking
  8. dappling
Verb
  • Wheat, rice, and corn flours are the three most common options for sprinkling over your soil.
    — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 14 Aug. 2026
  • But by the 1960s, the techniques of Central Texas — sprinkling briskets with salt and pepper and cooking them over indirect heat — started to become more commonplace.
    — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of sprinkling
Verb
  • If the grime is coming up but there’s still staining, spray some of the water and vinegar solution onto the area.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The closest look-alike, the black staining polypore mushroom, bruises to a black color when handled.
    — Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of staining
Verb
  • Deficits in Arizona will be as common as saguaros dotting the landscape.
    — Jess Bryant, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The scoring was tit for tat to the end, with winger Stravino Jacobs and captain Marcell Coetzee dotting down for the Bulls, and Carter and Wallace Sititi replying for New Zealand's second straight 50-pointer.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of dotting
Verb
  • The Grammy-winning singer has never shied away from dyeing her hair.
    — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 30 May 2026
  • Any colors that can catch your eye from a plate (and make your mouth water) are guaranteed to make an impact in 2026; edible flowers are the key to organically dyeing drinks and desserts with different hues.
    — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 May 2026
Definition of dyeing
Verb
  • Both come down to spotting opportunities where others see problems, building resilience, staying curious, and taking action without being asked to.
    — Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • In his short time in the big time, Hill’s been able to weed out the grifters and users, spotting the BS a mile away.
    — Katherine Turman, SPIN, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of spotting
Verb
  • Two pumps on the back of my hand did the trick, stippling it across my red-speckled cheeks and around my nose.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2025
  • The yellowing, eventually turning to brown, starts with stippling or tiny dots on the foliage where mites have pierced the leaves’ epidermis with their stylets or sucking mouthparts.
    — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
Definition of stippling
Verb
  • That’s squishing the spoonbills to new corners of Florida Bay, both to inland spots of the Everglades that used to be dry and have gone soggy and to some of the tiny mangrove islands flecking the bay.
    — Alex Harris July 8, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026
Definition of flecking
Verb
  • With the light dappling down from a sunroof, my dress was presented in all her glory.
    — Alexandra Macon, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Gaze out the viewing window to forest views, and wake up to sunlight dappling the geometric ceiling.
    — Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of dappling

Browse Nearby Words

marbles
marbling
march
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Cite this Entry

“Marbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/marbling. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on marbling

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about marbling

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