1
as in fleck
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part
a lizard with specks of white against a green body
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in glimmer
a very small amount
not a speck of explanation to accompany the book's pictures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in particle
a very small piece
a speck of dust was preventing the laser from reading the disc
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to sprinkle
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
dirt that had specked the windows of the factory for ages
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of speck
R29 Team, Refinery29, 19 Sep. 2025
Not until 52 hours later will the last speck of the sun's upper limb finally drop completely out of sight.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Brian Lowry, CNN, 19 Apr. 2018
To get into the spirit, order a ginger beer and rock shrimp fritters, fried balls of doughy goodness specked with bell pepper and spices that come steaming hot with a side of spicy mayo.
—Mark Kurlyandchik, Detroit Free Press, 12 Feb. 2018
See All Example Sentences for speck
Noun
On our table are a plate of thin-sliced speck, ham, and cheese, a dish with curls of homemade butter that look like tiny beehives, two pots of homemade strawberry and apricot jam, and a jar of golden honey from the farm bees.
—R29 Team, Refinery29, 19 Sep. 2025
Not until 52 hours later will the last speck of the sun's upper limb finally drop completely out of sight.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
For all its strengths, though, the series proves a bit of a slog, at times, as the wheels turn along the dusty, blood-specked road to wherever this maze leads.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 19 Apr. 2018
To get into the spirit, order a ginger beer and rock shrimp fritters, fried balls of doughy goodness specked with bell pepper and spices that come steaming hot with a side of spicy mayo.
—Mark Kurlyandchik, Detroit Free Press, 12 Feb. 2018
See All Example Sentences for speck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speck
Noun
-
Nice vanilla bean flecks and round, fatty flavor with only the subtlest hint of coconut.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Oct. 2025
-
And Abrams-Draine still managed to emerge with just a few flecks of soot after getting thrown in the fire last season, picking off Justin Herbert in a loss to the Chargers and establishing himself as a building block in a spot start.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
While some see a glimmer of hope in this moment, others are skeptical.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 2025
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Directed by Olivier & Tony Award nominee Jeremy Herrin (People, Places and Things; Wolf Hall) and MacMillan, Every Brilliant Thing revolves around a man who looks back at his life and the glimmers of hope that carried him through.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The inspector found particle growth on the ice guard of the ice maker, dirty walls and floors in the two walk-in freezers and insufficient hot water at the hand sink and three-compartment sink.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Oct. 2025
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Start the process by vigorously shaking or hanging then pounding the rug to remove loose dirt, crumbs, and other particles, then vacuum it thoroughly on both sides, using a canister vacuum with the hose or a high pile setting—and no beater bar!—
Jennifer Beck Goldblatt,
Architectural Digest,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
First up is November’s Blizzard of the Month, a new Peppermint Bark treat that combines white and milk chocolatey layers sprinkled with peppermint candy cane pieces blended into Dairy Queen's tasty soft serve.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
29 Oct. 2025
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Meanwhile sprinkle a pizza peel or another overturned baking sheet with flour or cornmeal.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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When the disease has progressed to the geographic atrophy stage, the cells deteriorate and die, and people lose their central vision — meaning an object straight ahead may appear blurry or covered up with a dark blotch.—
David Cox,
NBC news,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Dark brown blotches of varying sizes dot their sides and back.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Riverside native shreds lesser defenses beyond the arc and above the break.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
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The shred of good news is that this might finally get Kate into the White House, since Grace Penn (Allison Janney) is looking for a VP.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Another Halloween fanatic, Janelle Monáe fully committed to the bit by dressing as the Cat in the Hat for her Jennifer Hudson Spirit Tunnel walk.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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Use a mulching mower to chop the leaves into tiny bits that can be left on the lawn to nourish the soil.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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By mid-morning on the middle day of track action at Formula One’s 2025 United States Grand Prix, the hillside was dotted with chairs.—
Patrick Iversen,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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Generations of Colma families still serving the dead The sun rose over the nearby San Bruno Mountains on a recent day, lighting misty cemeteries dotted with cedar and palm trees.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Speck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speck. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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