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mottling

verb

present participle of mottle
as in sprinkling
to mark with small spots especially unevenly old papers that were mottled by mold

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mottling
  1. sprinkling
  2. staining
  3. dotting
  4. flecking
  5. spotting
  6. stippling
  7. dyeing
  8. dappling
Verb
  • Imagine sprinkling Cool Ranch Dorito seasoning on giant Fritos.
    — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Didier Fuentes has essentially filled in as the setup man in Suarez’s absence, with left-hander Dylan Lee also sprinkling in some appearances.
    — Jesús Cano, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of sprinkling
Verb
  • An ocular staining score of 5 or higher in at least one eye earns one point in the ACR/EULAR criteria.
    — Julie Scott, Verywell Health, 15 Sep. 2026
  • More rubbing produces mahogany, tan and brown hues, caused by staining from contact with vegetation.
    — Jim Zumbo, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of staining
Verb
  • The shoe’s name derives from the studded accents seen throughout, dotting the straps for a punk-rock finish.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Laurie came home soon after, finding him with a trail of blood dotting his shirt.
    — Mirin Fader, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of dotting
Verb
  • That’s squishing the spoonbills to new corners of Florida Bay, both to inland spots of the Everglades that used to be dry and have gone soggy and to some of the tiny mangrove islands flecking the bay.
    — Alex Harris July 8, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026
Definition of flecking
Verb
  • Performance-wise, their 42mm objectives drink in enough light for general astronomy use, though not so much for spotting deep sky objects.
    — Chris McMullen, Space.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The greatest value now comes from turning conversations into strategy—earning executive trust, spotting unmet opportunities and orchestrating partnerships that create lasting competitive advantage.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of spotting
Verb
  • Two pumps on the back of my hand did the trick, stippling it across my red-speckled cheeks and around my nose.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2025
  • The yellowing, eventually turning to brown, starts with stippling or tiny dots on the foliage where mites have pierced the leaves’ epidermis with their stylets or sucking mouthparts.
    — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
Definition of stippling
Verb
  • The Grammy-winning singer has never shied away from dyeing her hair.
    — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 30 May 2026
  • Any colors that can catch your eye from a plate (and make your mouth water) are guaranteed to make an impact in 2026; edible flowers are the key to organically dyeing drinks and desserts with different hues.
    — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 May 2026
Definition of dyeing
Verb
  • With the light dappling down from a sunroof, my dress was presented in all her glory.
    — Alexandra Macon, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Gaze out the viewing window to forest views, and wake up to sunlight dappling the geometric ceiling.
    — Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of dappling
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.

Browse Nearby Words

mottles
mottling
motto
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Cite this Entry

“Mottling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottling. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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