mottle 1 of 2

noun

ˈmä-tᵊl How to pronounce mottle (audio)
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

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
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
  1. blotch
  2. sprinkle
  3. fleck
  4. dot
  5. patch
  6. stain
  7. speck
  8. pepper
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
Definition of blotch
Verb
  • Though there are monuments and memorials — sidewalk plaques, benches, murals — sprinkled around the globe, there appear to be very few Jackson statues permanently displayed in the United States.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026
  • The reason gardeners sprinkle cayenne pepper in their yards is for pest control.
    — Molly Burford, Southern Living, 17 July 2026
Definition of sprinkle
Noun
  • Light streams through the frosted glass, catching flecks of dust.
    — Ashley Andreou, STAT, 22 June 2026
  • But flecks of green were visible throughout the stadium as Algeria fans made their presence known as well.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2026
Definition of fleck
Verb
  • The front line alone is roughly eight hundred miles long, to say nothing of the potential targets dotted across Russia’s enormous landmass.
    — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 15 July 2026
  • The couple fell ill in a Medici villa in Poggio a Caiano, near Florence, an area dotted with marshes and rice fields — ideal habitats for mosquitoes that can carry malaria.
    — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
Definition of dot
Noun
  • On a warm July afternoon near Fairbanks, a volunteer with the Alaska Bee Atlas kneels beside a patch of blooming fireweed, gently sweeping a net through the air.
    — Timothy Bundy, Washington Post, 17 July 2026
  • How to spot Perseid shooting stars Perseid meteors can be spotted anytime after dark from tonight onwards, streaking away from a patch of sky, or radiant, located close to the red supergiant star Eta Persei in the constellation Perseus.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of patch
Verb
  • The only part of her person not stained are the white circles around her eyes.
    — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026
  • Drinking water after coffee can help reduce acidity and wash away staining compounds.
    — Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 10 July 2026
Definition of stain
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
Definition of speck
Verb
  • As an amateur race car driver, the villa’s owner wanted elements of his passion peppering the interior.
    — Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 14 July 2026
  • Stir together mayonnaise, sour cream, dill, lemon juice, salt, garlic, Dijon, and pepper in a large bowl until smooth.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 14 July 2026
Definition of pepper

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mottle
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Cite this Entry

“Mottle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottle. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of mottle for Spanish Speakers

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