MOTTLED Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

mottled 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of mottled

as in colored

having blotches of two or more colors a mottled complexion

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in dotted

marked with spots mottled leather upholstery that isn't supposed to look perfect

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

mottled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of mottle

as in sprinkled

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 mottled

Adjective

The shallowest sections near the coast appear bright aquamarine, the deepest shift toward cobalt or lapis, and a mottled turquoise fills the space between. — Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026 The tall block heels were rendered in translucent amber and black with a horn-like mottled finish, introducing a second clear element without turning the design into a fully transparent shoe. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 26 July 2026

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 mottled

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mottled

Adjective

There were beautiful boulevards, sweeping bridges over the Moskva River, wide Stalin-era avenues lined with imposing granite buildings, and quiet nineteenth-century neighborhoods of pastel-colored mansions.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
Located within the historic Castle District, the area features cobbled streets, several museums, and the striking Matthias Church, which is known for its highly detailed, multi-colored interior décor.

— Lucy Handley, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of colored

Adjective

To reduce confusion, the top plate has a dotted pattern around each key position that can accept a magnetic switch.

— Francisco Lahoz, PC Magazine, 12 Sep. 2026
The black dotted forecast line shows the multi-model median whereas the surrounding range shows the 25th–75th percentiles.

— Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of dotted

Verb

References to Bond sprinkled throughout the trailer include Cage ordering that signature cocktail and packing a familiar-looking pistol, plus a gag at the end playing off Bond’s 007 designation.

— Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
Try different berries in yogurt, smoothies, or sprinkled over oatmeal.

— Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of sprinkled

Adjective

Set the scene Upon entering, don't let the grandiose, atrium-esque, white-marbled lobby fool you into thinking there's an ounce of formality or stuffiness here.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
Lastly, the sneaker’s marbled outsole has been given a glow-in-the-dark treatment — a longtime staple of Nike’s Halloween sneakers.

— Riley Jones, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of marbled

Adjective

Tegu These fat, speckled lizards hail from Argentina and arrived in Florida with a hunger for eggs— alligator, turtle, tortoise and bird alike.

— Alex Harris August 25, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
Bred at the organization’s Beckman Center for Conservation Research, the tiny, speckled frogs have been reintroduced at several different high-elevation mountain habitats, including Bluff Lake in the Big Bear Valley.

— Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of speckled

Verb

The Lincoln, the length of its hull stained by rust from the extended time at sea, pulled into the port of Laem Chabang, not far from the city of Pattaya, a prime destination for US military rest-and-relaxation visits since the Vietnam War.

— Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
The white cocoons are torn through and stained with yellow-brown secretions.

— Jonathan Flint, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of stained

Verb

The creamy consistency gives the pie a dreamy texture, with little pops of crunch from the passionfruit seeds flecked throughout the custard.

— The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Family, friends and neighbors filled the frames with dancing and dominoes; their apartments painted in shades of mint, butter yellow and palomino pink, flecked with a patina cultivated by humidity and time.

— Suzy Exposito, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026

Definition of flecked

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“Mottled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottled. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of mottled

adjective

verb

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