speck 1 of 2

noun

ˈspek How to pronounce speck (audio)
Definition of specknext
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

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2
as in glimmer
a very small amount not a speck of explanation to accompany the book's pictures

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in particle
a very small piece a speck of dust was preventing the laser from reading the disc

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

speck

2 of 2

verb

as in to sprinkle
to mark with small spots especially unevenly dirt that had specked the windows of the factory for ages

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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 speck
Noun
To make matters worse, the Houthis have captured new terrain in Yemen and acquired Perim Island, a speck of land inside the Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint that better positions the Yemeni militia to intercept oil tankers. — Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026 Calcium shows up as bright white specks on the coronary artery images. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
When selecting a pattern, veined countertop patterns are the overwhelming favorite (75%), followed by 13% of homeowners choosing specked, and 12% choosing a uniform pattern. — Terri Williams, Forbes.com, 13 Jan. 2026 Mayfield’s Best-Summer-Melon with Speck Mayfield chef Jon Sarmenta makes this version of melon and speck his own by roasting spice nuts for garnish and making a melon vinaigrette to drizzle all over the dish. — Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for speck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speck
  1. fleck
  2. glimmer
  3. particle
  4. sprinkle
  5. blotch
  6. shred
  7. bit
  8. dot
Noun
  • In addition, since all this debris is moving at orbital velocity, a fleck of paint traveling in the opposite direction to an operational satellite can hit it at a speed in excess of Mach 47.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2026
  • As few as 10 cells, hidden in an infinitesimal fleck of feces, can contaminate raw milk and trigger a fatal infection.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of fleck
Noun
  • After two years in power-play purgatory under assistant coach Newell Brown, during which the Kings placed 29th cumulatively, there’s finally a glimmer of hope for the power play with first-time NHL assistant Ray Whitney.
    — Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Wednesday’s loss didn’t have a glimmer of a comeback, resulting in an exhausting slog toward the final margin.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of glimmer
Noun
  • Earning a ghostly reputation by avoiding gravity and nuclear forces, these abundant particles stream through us daily without leaving a single trace.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 10 Nov. 2026
  • The dark particles coat white snow and soak up heat from the sun, exacerbating melting that was already happening more quickly because of climate change.
    — Connie Hanzhang Jin, NPR, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of particle
Verb
  • Each guest room offers two complimentary reusable water bottles that can be filled at hydration stations sprinkled throughout the property.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Nov. 2026
  • In keeping with the grand tradition of Stand Up for Heroes, which is organized by the Bob Woodruff Foundation and has raised $123 million for veterans and their families over the past 20 years, Springsteen sprinkled dirty jokes throughout his set.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of sprinkle
Noun
  • Doctors detected abnormal breath sounds, and a scan revealed a round blotch in his right lung—a sign of blood, pus, fluid or tissue—but tests for common pathogens came back negative.
    — Rachel Melegrito, Scientific American, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Juveniles can be distinguished by their dark facial bands and gray or tan body patterned with black or brown blotches.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of blotch
Noun
  • El-Sayed didn’t win himself any favors with an arrogant acceptance speech delivered without a shred of grace.
    — Kaitlyn Buss, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Not every case deserves that kind of last-minute intervention, but in Duckett’s case nearly every shred of evidence presented at his original trial has been disproven or debunked.
    — Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of shred
Noun
  • Jama took to social media to share a goodbye message with some of her best bits from the ITV reality series.
    — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 8 Nov. 2026
  • But, unfortunately, got a little bit tangled up and fell awkward.
    — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of bit
Verb
  • It's located on the Brisbane Riverwalk, a network of overwater walkways that are dotted with bright red royal poinciana flame trees, which didn't exist 10 years ago.
    — Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Sunk, barnacle-laden landing craft, tanks and shipwrecks still dot the seabed off its shore.
    — Rob Newell, Baltimore Sun, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of dot

Browse Nearby Words

speciousness
speck
specked
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Cite this Entry

“Speck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speck. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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