as in blotch
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part
canvases covered with streaks and mottles
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mottle
New Atlas, 23 Jan. 2026
As branching coral look-alikes, the cuttlefish splayed out their arms and displayed dark mottles to blend in with staghorn coral.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2025
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025
Some are near-alabaster or silvery, others the darkest of greens, and there are variegated choices, striped or mottled in gold or white or silver.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mottle
Noun
Turn the mottle of ideas in your head into coherent communicable paragraphs.
—New Atlas, 23 Jan. 2026
As branching coral look-alikes, the cuttlefish splayed out their arms and displayed dark mottles to blend in with staghorn coral.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2025
Verb
Shiny and dark evergreen foliage is held aloft on strong, arching stems mottled with purple flecks.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025
Some are near-alabaster or silvery, others the darkest of greens, and there are variegated choices, striped or mottled in gold or white or silver.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mottle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mottle
Noun
-
This was a black one with blotches faintly outlined in pale yellow, a beautiful but deadly looking animal.—
Dr. C. E. Kuschel,
Outdoor Life,
9 Apr. 2026
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The eggs vary in color—from white to blue to brown—with speckles, blotches, and other markings and are also distinctive in shape.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Spread mixture into prepared baking dish and sprinkle with queso fresco.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2026
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Amid more than a decade now without a Top 10 lottery pick (Justise Winslow was the last, at No, 10 in 2015), the Heat have found a way to remain competitive, with a few deep playoff runs sprinkled in.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Its design, crafted by Russell Sage Studio, is meant to be an on-the-nose reflection of the distillery's famed product, with bronzy walls the color of its single malt, and a ceiling painted to look like barley, reflecting the morning dew with flecks of gold throughout.—
Alessandra Amodio,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Apr. 2026
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Berber carpet Berber is a type of loop pile carpet with flecks of color.—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The main lobby is dotted with glass orb lights hanging from the ceiling and cushy lounge chairs.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
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Secret churches, perilous conversions During the Palm Sunday service, the in-person audience at the nondenominational church was much smaller than on a typical Sunday, with only about a half-dozen members dotting the rows of blue chairs in front of the stage.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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For commercial farmers Jami and Chuck English, stationing an honor box at their pick-your-own pumpkin patch each fall was a logistics decision.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
10 Apr. 2026
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According to the Mayo Clinic, Psoriasis is a long-term disease that causes itchy, scaly patches on the skin.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Use a broom or stiff brush and focus on high-traffic or stained areas.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Focus on high-traffic or stained areas.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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What emerged was an omelet of ideal and epitomic shape—straight, proudly puffed, about six and a half inches long and two and a half inches wide, with squarish ends and neither a speck nor drop of oil or liquid egg anywhere around.—
Jeffrey Steingarten,
Vogue,
5 Apr. 2026
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Is that oblong speck an egg sac or a flake of dandruff?—
Tom Nichols,
The Atlantic,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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O’Leary’s just been peppering the house manager with questions about her business and admiring the replica of the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man that dominates the entryway.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2026
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The women had all read my book and eagerly peppered me with questions.—
Roxane Gay,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mottle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottle. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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