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

Relevance

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
  • Wellness is also sprinkled throughout the stay in other ways outside of Thistle, like the welcome ritual and the nightly turndown service.
    — Jess Feldman, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026
  • Top with half of the tomatoes and sprinkle with half of the brown sugar, bacon, and onion.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 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
  • Europe is dotted with picture-perfect isles that lie waiting to be explored.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 8 July 2026
  • Our time at Sana left us eager to see one of the real cenotes dotted along the Riviera Maya.
    — Flora Stubbs, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
Definition of dot
Noun
  • Through the agreement, in collaboration with Learfield, an XRP jersey patch will be featured on all Kansas team uniforms, marking the first time a cryptocurrency will be integrated into the jersey of a major college athletics program.
    — Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 10 July 2026
  • Massage it on rough, bumpy patches and areas prone to ingrown hairs for brighter, smoother, healthier-looking skin.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
Definition of patch
Verb
  • Buchanan, was responding to a burglary report at a Verizon store across the street and noticed a broken window stained with blood, per the footage.
    — Ben Brachfeld, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
  • Waterproof surfaces like quartz or marble handle spills and splashes without staining.
    — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of stain
Noun
  • New York State created a Law, for an instant speck of time, going back many decades, in order to wrongfully ‘nab’ me.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 29 June 2026
  • One released a chaff cascade—hell’s own monsoon manifesting as specks of light, sound, and EM pulses falling through the hanging garden.
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 June 2026
Definition of speck
Verb
  • On July 1, during a public meeting of Rosado’s Loop group, Robaina and longtime trail advocates peppered a half-dozen county representatives with questions about the project’s status, cost and funding sources.
    — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026
  • That tweet has been peppered by at least a dozen community notes that keep coming and going, challenging PlayStation’s assertions about digital adoption.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of pepper

Browse Nearby Words

motorways
mottle
mottled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mottle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottle. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on mottle

Nglish: Translation of mottle for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All