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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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
New York Times, 25 July 2025
The color is an almost transparent antique and shiny garnet; the nose delivers delicate floral scents of violet and rose petal that take on spicy and balsamic mottling with age.
—Elisabetta Tosi, Forbes.com, 24 July 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
The parrot’s feathers are a bright gilded green mottled with black, and its life span is comparable to that of a human.
—New York Times, 25 July 2025
The color is an almost transparent antique and shiny garnet; the nose delivers delicate floral scents of violet and rose petal that take on spicy and balsamic mottling with age.
—Elisabetta Tosi, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for mottle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mottle
Noun
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Her zapping turns her entire head of hair — not just a streak — shocking white à la Jean Harlow, and leaves an oddly-appealing black blotch on her cheek.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
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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
Verb
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From March to May, the hiking trails are sprinkled with vibrant yellow desert marigolds, deep purple lupines, and bright red and orange Indian paintbrush blooms, among other varieties.—
Annie Daly,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
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The chain has more than a few Charlotte restaurants with spots in Madison Park, Steele Creek and East Charlotte, plus others sprinkled across the metro — Concord, Kannapolis, Fort Mill and Rock Hill (the latter two opened in 2024).—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Berber carpet Berber is a type of loop pile carpet with flecks of color.—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
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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
Verb
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Set within a sprawling Mediterranean estate dotted with olive trees, jasmine, and prickly pear, the property feels serene and secluded.—
Angela Tafoya,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
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The historic district is just a few blocks wide, with the Gulf on one side, the Intracoastal on the other, and a walkable little downtown dotted with shops and galleries in between.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Some people may benefit from vitamin patches.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Then-current neoclassicism is evident in bright scorings — for double winds and brass, strings and timpani — and patches of contrapuntal business.—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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It’s been dried, stripped of bark, sanded to silky smoothness, stained, sealed and painstakingly carved.—
Kathy Gurchiek,
AJC.com,
10 Mar. 2026
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While standard cast iron typically requires seasoning to both preserve and maintain its quality and help prevent food from sticking, this cast iron is equipped with a black matte satin interior enamel coating that’s made to resist cracking, chipping, and staining.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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As for the killings of his wife and in-laws, Zeigler’s lawyers contend the real killer would have blood spatter on their clothes, which Zeigler did not save for two specks of Perry Edwards’ blood on his shoes.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
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The specks of warmth salvaged from the inside of the patrol car, which had clung to his skin under his gray sweatpants and hooded striped sweatshirt, soon fell away.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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On Tuesday, the New Mexico jury watched a video in which prosecutors peppered Instagram head Adam Mosseri with questions about Meta's approach to safety, corporate profits and social media features.—
MORGAN LEE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
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On Tuesday, the New Mexico jury watched a video in which prosecutors peppered Instagram head Adam Mosseri with questions about Meta’s approach to safety, corporate profits and social media features.—
Morgan Lee,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mottle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottle. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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