1
as in spraying
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on
pepper the costume with flecks of glitter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in sprinkling
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
spilled flour peppered the kitchen floor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of peppering
Dover-Sherborn/Weston came out with a major spark to start the third down 4-1, peppering Tigers goalie Jacob Dangel with eight shots in the first three minutes.
—
Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
The Portland Timbers came calling in January, and kept peppering Colorado’s front office with offers, according to Bassett.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2026
With members of Congress still peppering the country and globe, the likelihood of bringing a swift resolution to the funding impasse is low.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
All of the familiar tropes are there, from the numerous pop songs peppering the action (including one by Phil Collins, just to remind you of Miami Vice) to the profane banter between the two main characters to the endless fights, shootouts and chases to the colorful villain.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026
The Hirons spent most of Christmas Eve peppering the area around 119th and Mission Road with signs.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 17 Jan. 2026
Factor in Rodgers' league-leading time-to-throw abilities, and defenses don't have time to be as exotic, which enables the Steelers to methodically drive down the field, often by peppering their running backs near the line of scrimmage.
—Austin Mock, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
But their decision won't be made before peppering the final three with questions at the final Tribal Council.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025
That disputable appraisal turned a few heads, and people began peppering the bot for further remarks on Musk’s physical prowess.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2025
Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
The Portland Timbers came calling in January, and kept peppering Colorado’s front office with offers, according to Bassett.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2026
With members of Congress still peppering the country and globe, the likelihood of bringing a swift resolution to the funding impasse is low.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
All of the familiar tropes are there, from the numerous pop songs peppering the action (including one by Phil Collins, just to remind you of Miami Vice) to the profane banter between the two main characters to the endless fights, shootouts and chases to the colorful villain.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026
The Hirons spent most of Christmas Eve peppering the area around 119th and Mission Road with signs.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 17 Jan. 2026
Factor in Rodgers' league-leading time-to-throw abilities, and defenses don't have time to be as exotic, which enables the Steelers to methodically drive down the field, often by peppering their running backs near the line of scrimmage.
—Austin Mock, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
But their decision won't be made before peppering the final three with questions at the final Tribal Council.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025
That disputable appraisal turned a few heads, and people began peppering the bot for further remarks on Musk’s physical prowess.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for peppering
Verb
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Next, the group plans to demand the county stop spraying along the Santa Ana River, which reaches the ocean on the south side of Huntington Beach.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
They’re also sold in a three-pack, so don’t be shy about spraying them on everyone’s hands.—
Terri Peters,
Parents,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The recipe also suggests sprinkling some fresh thyme leaves on top of your Bacon Jam before serving for a hint of herby freshness—and to look pretty—but that’s optional.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2026
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Position the seeds about 2 to 3 inches apart, or speed up planting by blending the carrot seeds with fine sand or potting mix and sprinkling the mixture lightly and evenly along a planting row.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Bright hot-air balloons dotting the pale sky over a striated desert.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
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Also like many others, the surgery Nyong’o had to remove the roughly 30 fibroids dotting her uterus at the time proved only a temporary fix, with upward of 50 redeveloping in the 12 years since.—
Beth Krietsch,
SELF,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Peppering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peppering. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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