mottle 1 of 2

as in blotch
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part canvases covered with streaks and mottles

Synonyms & Similar Words

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mottle

2 of 2

verb

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 mottle
Noun
As branching coral look-alikes, the cuttlefish splayed out their arms and displayed dark mottles to blend in with staghorn coral. Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2025 Remember to continue your daily sunscreen use to stave off more mottle. Katie Becker, Harper's BAZAAR, 5 Oct. 2015
Verb
Some are near-alabaster or silvery, others the darkest of greens, and there are variegated choices, striped or mottled in gold or white or silver. Margaret Roach, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025 The soil was mottled with sheep droppings and uneven patches of grass. Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mottle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mottle
Noun
  • Some leaf-mining insects make distinct patterns, like squiggles or serpentine shapes, while others make irregular blotches, like this species.
    Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 8 May 2025
  • Black panthers, as they are colloquially named, are a color variation of a leopard with fully black fur or large blotches of black spots on a dark background color, according to Britannica.
    Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • There are access points sprinkled across the waterfront.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 23 May 2025
  • To add a Tajín or salt rim, sprinkle a thin layer of Tajín or fine sea salt into a shallow bowl or plate.
    The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • Santo My Palo can best be described as an otherworldly nude shade with multicolored glittery flecks suspended in the gel that reflect light for a mega-watt sparkle.
    Fiona Embleton, Glamour, 27 May 2025
  • The formula—which sparkles in the bottle with rose-gold flecks of glitter—is made more indulgent yet with its gourman, coconut-milk scent.
    Jenny Berg, Vogue, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • And today, over a century after logging ceased in 1918, Converse Basin Grove remains a patchwork of young conifer plantations and open meadows dotted with massive stumps.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • Inside, three bedrooms and four baths are spread across almost 2,300 square feet of multi-level living space boasting a mix of stone and wide-plank French oak floors, arched doorways, and whitewashed wood-beam ceilings dotted with skylights.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • This signals the end of a seriously rough patch for KTM, which was on the brink of collapse for a while.
    Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 23 May 2025
  • There's a fascinating set of new patches Chinese officials released for a series of launches with top-secret satellites over the last two months, Ars reports.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • Plus, the matte, two-tone color scheme helps resist staining, maintaining the spoons' stylish appeal over time.
    Toby Rose, Parents, 22 May 2025
  • Then, once completed, pasting begins, where mud from the henna plant is placed atop the area to stain.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • The whole process is more NASA than NASCAR in that there’s not a speck of grease or oil on the bright, white vinyl flooring and everybody’s hands are clean.
    Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
  • Or a percentage of a fraction of a risk — better lock him up, than risk a speck of backlash.
    David Katz, IndieWire, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • McCollum relayed the report to then-Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson, who peppered him.
    Alec Lewis, New York Times, 2 June 2025
  • The water is fed by 72-degree springs, so if your lungs are up for it, pepper the relaxation under the sun with some underwater forays.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mottle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottle. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.

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