Thesaurus results for MOTTLE

mottle 1 of 2

noun

ˈmä-tᵊl

Definition of mottle

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

as in to sprinkle

to mark with small spots especially unevenly old papers that were mottled by mold

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Its flowers are huge and orange, marked or mottled with maroon splotches. — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026 The foliage is typically mottled with silvery or light green variegation. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for mottle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mottle

Noun

Doctors detected abnormal breath sounds, and a scan revealed a round blotch in his right lung—a sign of blood, pus, fluid or tissue—but tests for common pathogens came back negative.

— Rachel Melegrito, Scientific American, 26 Oct. 2026
Juveniles can be distinguished by their dark facial bands and gray or tan body patterned with black or brown blotches.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of blotch

Verb

Each guest room offers two complimentary reusable water bottles that can be filled at hydration stations sprinkled throughout the property.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Nov. 2026
In keeping with the grand tradition of Stand Up for Heroes, which is organized by the Bob Woodruff Foundation and has raised $123 million for veterans and their families over the past 20 years, Springsteen sprinkled dirty jokes throughout his set.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of sprinkle

Noun

In addition, since all this debris is moving at orbital velocity, a fleck of paint traveling in the opposite direction to an operational satellite can hit it at a speed in excess of Mach 47.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2026
As few as 10 cells, hidden in an infinitesimal fleck of feces, can contaminate raw milk and trigger a fatal infection.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of fleck

Verb

It's located on the Brisbane Riverwalk, a network of overwater walkways that are dotted with bright red royal poinciana flame trees, which didn't exist 10 years ago.

— Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Nov. 2026
Sunk, barnacle-laden landing craft, tanks and shipwrecks still dot the seabed off its shore.

— Rob Newell, Baltimore Sun, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of dot

Noun

There are so many pumpkins on her lawn that the wayward seeds began to grow pumpkin patches.

— Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 13 Nov. 2026
Potential applications include wound dressings designed to help protect difficult-to-heal injuries and wearable patches that combine infection prevention with health monitoring.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of patch

Verb

Donning a pink skirt suit and matching pillbox hat stained with fake blood, Fox stepped out as the former First Lady during an event for Urban Decay.

— Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2026
The sculptures were frequently stained with graphite or chalk dust, whose force of presence was comparable to that of cliff or cave, capable of stunning the viewer into silence.

— News Desk, Artforum, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of stain

Noun

The finding fits theories that planets and other bodies in the solar system were built in waves as a mixture of fine dust, ice, organic matter and specks of stardust circling the newborn sun clumped together into ever larger objects.

— Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 12 Nov. 2026
The pair are flip sides of the same coin; Kinney a speck of blue running in a red state, and Austin a Republican running in the Democratic stronghold of Connecticut.

— Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of speck

Verb

For at least a month, the president has been peppering both executive actions and promises of cash payouts into his midterm campaign schedule and social media posts.

— Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026
The Glee reboot should pepper the series with some fun cameos from beloved characters, many of whom got cast in the later shakier seasons, as well as some of the most fun guest stars.

— Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of pepper

Browse Nearby Words

motorways

mottle

mottled

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“Mottle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottle. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of mottle

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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