1
as in colored
having blotches of two or more colors
a mottled complexion
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dotted
marked with spots
mottled leather upholstery that isn't supposed to look perfect
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sprinkled
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
old papers that were mottled by mold
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Recent Examples of mottled
Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
These feisty birds, which can run up to 15-20 mph, are recognizable by their mottled feathers, long tails, long legs and short head crest — which is more brownish than the bright blue in the cartoon.
—Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 24 July 2025
Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mottled
Adjective
His upper lip was swollen and bruised a mottled pinkish blue, and the skin on his face was rubbed raw.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
These feisty birds, which can run up to 15-20 mph, are recognizable by their mottled feathers, long tails, long legs and short head crest — which is more brownish than the bright blue in the cartoon.
—Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 24 July 2025
Verb
The Illinois skies are mottled.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mottled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mottled
Adjective
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The nutmeg-colored upholstery and bucket seats were shot.—
Laura Lane,
USA Today,
11 Oct. 2025
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The Guerida line nodding to private estate La Querida and its white façades, emerald green lawns and ocean views offered a more naïve take on the colored theme by mean of hearts and floral motifs juxtaposed in a ring, bracelet and pendant earrings.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This reversible quilt has a hint of floral romance on one side and a more minimalist dotted print on the other.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
9 Oct. 2025
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Examples include dotted prints, the flat-thong sandal and the color yellow.—
Chloe Veltman,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Chopped pecans are sprinkled over the top, creating that irresistible sticky topping once the buns are baked and flipped.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Oct. 2025
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The minimum guarantees were reduced to 14 out of the show’s 18 episodes per season, meaning some of Grey’s Anatomy’s stars won’t appear in four episodes usually sprinkled throughout the season.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Shuttled in on golf carts to a powder pink carpet, models, media and micro-celebrities mingled as staff passed out marbled Jell-O shots and macarons stamped with the VS logo.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
16 Oct. 2025
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This red marbled stone feels like an homage to Paloma Elsesser's spa-like bathroom.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The design of the Grosche Milano Stone stovetop espresso maker, a speckled stone that looks like the bottom of a creek, gives your stovetop coffee maker a contemporary look that’s suited for a modern kitchen.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
10 Oct. 2025
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This golden bouquet, which comes in a speckled brown ceramic pot, adds moody vibes and a pop of fall-friendly color, to the countertops, table, or coffee table.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Wood floors that have been stained in interesting patterns create a sense of architecture and rhythm, bridge traditional elements with modern ones, and can even help a space feel larger.—
Lauren Bengtson,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Oct. 2025
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If a toilet seat is stained, go ahead and buy a replacement.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Every inch of their spotted, streamlined bodies is designed for life on the move, carrying them across entire oceans in search of clouds of plankton and fish eggs.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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An invasive planthopper native to Asia, the spotted lanternfly is thought to have entered the U.S. via egg masses on a stone shipment in 2012, according to Cornell Integrated Pest Management.—
Katie Nixon,
The Tennessean,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Behind Timm was her unassuming garden, flecked with tall grasses and native plants of all sizes – a quiet haven alive with color, movement and purpose.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
25 Sep. 2025
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Éclairs with glossy chocolate tops, macarons in muted pastels that feel like edible architecture, madeleines flecked with salt or spice.—
Daniel Scheffler,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mottled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottled. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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