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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
-
An influx of sediment gives the water along the upper coast a caramel-colored hue, but farther south, the water runs clear.—
Pam LeBlanc,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Mar. 2026
-
He was last seen wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants, and cream colored shoes.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In this manicure, chrome serves as an accent, adding a pop of icy blue metallic underneath a dotted design.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Ready to sign on the dotted line?—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Most soil acidifiers should be sprinkled over gardens, worked into the top few inches of earth, and then watered in with your hose.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Mar. 2026
-
There are access points sprinkled across the waterfront.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The porter's footsteps echoed back into the marbled lobby, and then even the tapping dissipated into the air or the sound of the boat’s engine.—
Vic O'Sullivan,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Mar. 2026
-
From the belly came otoro, the richly marbled portion considered the most luxurious part of the fish.—
J.M. Banks
March 3,
Kansas City Star,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Rounding out the trio is the 008 recovery slide with its uniformly blue upper and a speckled gum outsole.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Variegation takes on many forms, from speckled or spotted foliage to dramatic striping.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Worn Clothing Do not fill your dresser drawers with garments that have seen better days to the point that they're torn or stained.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Set in a landscape stained by red clay and bad blood, villainy is commonplace.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Her sky-blue eyes, flecked with silver and hazel, narrow slightly, then relax.—
Gerald Witt,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Rounds of roasted purple sweet potatoes arrive mounded with a mixture of salsa macha and butter, and liberally flecked with chives.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mottled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottled. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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