1
as in colored
having blotches of two or more colors
a mottled complexion
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dotted
marked with spots
mottled leather upholstery that isn't supposed to look perfect
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sprinkled
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
old papers that were mottled by mold
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mottled
Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 18 Dec. 2025
Museum-caliber furniture and objects, major artworks from François Pinault’s personal collection, yards of colorful marble and bespoke, mottled carpeting add up to a sumptuous environment reminiscent of the home of a serious collector — and fiercely chic fashion plate.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 18 Nov. 2025
Ben Taub, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Shiny and dark evergreen foliage is held aloft on strong, arching stems mottled with purple flecks.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mottled
Adjective
Crowson also shot his first mottled duck.
—Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 18 Dec. 2025
Museum-caliber furniture and objects, major artworks from François Pinault’s personal collection, yards of colorful marble and bespoke, mottled carpeting add up to a sumptuous environment reminiscent of the home of a serious collector — and fiercely chic fashion plate.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 18 Nov. 2025
Verb
But Tariq’s body was already cold, and his skin was mottled.
—Ben Taub, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Shiny and dark evergreen foliage is held aloft on strong, arching stems mottled with purple flecks.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mottled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mottled
Adjective
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Dangles and hoops showcasing beautiful gemstones from colored amethyst and topaz to radiant quartz colors.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
In a process called simultaneous contrast, our brain perceives colored objects in relation to the color of the background that they’re viewed against.—
Nora Bradford,
Scientific American,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Another six dead roaches dotted kitchen area light shields.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
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Moss wore a black, semi-sheer polka-dot blouse featuring delicate, dotted-mesh fabric that revealed a glimpse of skin underneath.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Whatever toxic fairy dust Dakota sprinkled in Taylor’s eyes that’s keeping her trapped in his orbit seems to have made its way to DadTok.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
-
As is the BeltLine, a 22-mile loop that connects 45 neighborhoods with restaurants, watering holes, shops, and galleries sprinkled along its path.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The wagyu, eringi mushroom and yuzu maki rolls are perhaps the most inventive dish; topped with a sliver of marbled Japanese beef, each morsel tastes like a bite-size burger.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
12 Mar. 2026
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To make this unique cheese, cheddar curds are mixed with Irish porter, which gives the cheese its distinct marbled appearance plus a roasted, malty taste.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The casing comes in the same colors with a speckled effect made from the Volt color.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
18 Mar. 2026
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Or, take the Mr Akpos Dauda room, which is almost something of a library; its white walls are accented with gray and burnt orange details, gas-cylinder bedside lamps, and speckled marble countertops perfect for in-room dining.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Overnight, the smoke coiled upward and gave way to acid rain that stained the city black.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
-
No more worrying about whether my teeth are wine-stained at dinner and no reason to feel guilty about that second (or third) espresso hit.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The whole rug needs to get wet or colors in the fiber could migrate and result in a blotched look.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2025
-
Its leaves are deciduous and sometimes white-blotched.—
Howard Garrett,
Dallas News,
16 Aug. 2021
Verb
-
The biscuits, flecked with frilly sprigs of dill, are pulled together with sour cream, giving them tenderness and a mild tang.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
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Locked in a safe on her desk at Boston University’s Institute for Astrophysical Research is a shard of meteorite flecked with material older than the sun.—
James Dinneen,
Quanta Magazine,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mottled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottled. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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