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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mottled
Monica Deeks, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
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
Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mottled
Adjective
The babies, usually two or three to a family, start as small, fluffy creatures with dark, mottled spots on their heads and webbed feet much too big for their bodies.
—Monica Deeks, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
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
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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During this time, monarchs cluster together in packed colonies for warmth—in a good year, thousands of monarchs might rest on a single tree, creating a kaleidoscope of brilliantly colored wings.—
Chelsee Lowe,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Nov. 2025
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Remember, a hard freeze will still damage them, turning them mushy and off-colored.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Most of the back is covered in a dotted texture imprinted directly into the plastic.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
7 Nov. 2025
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In fact, each has proven to be a false alarm, as slowdowns in momentum have consistently led to new buying opportunities (as indicated by the blue, dotted vertical lines).—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Other Latin artists are sprinkled throughout the categories.—
Sigal Ratner-Arias,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
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The initial run of shows sprinkled 12 dates over the course of May 2026, kicking off May 6 and running through May 30.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 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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From brown granite to speckled composite stone, there have been more than a few countertop looks that were overdone in the past decade.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
29 Oct. 2025
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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
Verb
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Worn Plastic Containers Are your plastic containers stained, smelly, cracked, half-melted, or turning rough like sandpaper?—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 Nov. 2025
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The costume, which has made waves online, features Fox in a pink suit stained with fake blood, meant to resemble the former first lady shortly after the assassination of her husband.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
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
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Its leaves are deciduous and sometimes white-blotched.—
Howard Garrett,
Dallas News,
16 Aug. 2021
Verb
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Among the other standouts are Klimt’s Blooming Meadow (1908)—a sea of green grass and trees flecked with blue, yellow, and pink dabs of wildflowers—and six figurative bronzes by Matisse.—
Julie Belcove,
Robb Report,
26 Oct. 2025
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The first two discs are flecked with revelations.—
Will Hermes,
Rolling Stone,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mottled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottled. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
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