Definition of mottlenext
as in blotch
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part canvases covered with streaks and mottles

Synonyms & Similar Words

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mottle

2 of 2

verb

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 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
The foliage is typically mottled with silvery or light green variegation. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 May 2026 The air rang with random alarms; the soft surfaces were mottled with mystery stains. Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mottle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mottle
Noun
  • Verticillium wilt causes similar blotches and yellowing.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2026
  • Pine snakes can grow up to 56 inches in length, have black, brown, and russet scales with dark blotches along their backs, and are noted for having a pointed nose, which experts believe may help with burrowing.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • Then, sprinkling in frequent, intentional movement throughout the workday.
    Jakob Roze, Health, 23 July 2026
  • Earlier this month, Godwin kicked off the Christian Name Tour, which will run through November and take him coast to coast — with come co-headline appearances with Dylan Gossett sprinkled in during August and September.
    Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2026
Noun
  • One image of her right knee showed flecks of blue plastic that prosecutors said came from an inflatable pool Burke used to collect blood while dismembering her body.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2026
  • Someone unfamiliar with salt bread might even suspect a major baking error, seeing a questionably smooth croissant that entirely missed the lamination process, adorned with only a few flecks of salt acting as its saving grace.
    Candy Hom, AJC.com, 19 July 2026
Verb
  • Lake Norman also is dotted with artificial reefs, said Billy Wilson, who serves as a board member of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and the president of its Lake Norman chapter.
    Laura Horne, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026
  • Construction cranes are bringing office towers to an area once dotted with auto body shops, small storefronts, and single family homes.
    Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026
Noun
  • Made with a peptide complex and vitamin E, the patches reduce lines and wrinkles while plumping and brightening your skin.
    Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 25 July 2026
  • From Jeffrey’s team, Chloe’s remade dress, with an off-the-shoulder top and an awful mesh corset patch tied with a blue ribbon, is universally hated by the judges.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 July 2026
Verb
  • But the tournament will also be remembered for a classless and churlish Argentina, which forever stained itself with a thuggish performance in the game and an ungracious one afterward.
    Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
  • Now—before there is another name, another van, another street stained with blood that didn't have to be spilled.
    Kica Matos, Time, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • Tucked into the foothills above Point Dome, the property is listed for a speck under $5 million.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 17 July 2026
  • Rather than waiting several years to look at the object through the VLT once more, Sutlieff, Bonse and their colleagues dove into older, archival imagery of the star system, looking for signs of their speck.
    Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • Lacy, who is famously fluid in his sexuality and laughs off any attempt to define it, peppers his songs with dreams of men and women, of wanting each yet leaving everyone.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026
  • The world’s already richest clubs pepper the top of the list — Barcelona, second four years ago, are also second in our estimate — which stands to reason given it is their players who are most likely to feature on the world stage.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Mottle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottle. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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