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
Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
These generally appear as white bumps or specks that encrust the stems, branches, and undersides of leaves and suck the sap.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
New York Times, 16 Nov. 2019
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
See All Example Sentences for speck
Noun
The specks of light are small bombs, each carrying up to 11 pounds of explosives, which are released at high altitude from the head of the missile before raining down indiscriminately over a wide area.
—Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
These generally appear as white bumps or specks that encrust the stems, branches, and undersides of leaves and suck the sap.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
The 656-foot vessel, called the Golden Ray, has been lying since early September off a slice of the Georgia coast specked with resorts and sprawling high-dollar homes.
—New York Times, 16 Nov. 2019
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
See All Example Sentences for speck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speck
Noun
-
Berber carpet Berber is a type of loop pile carpet with flecks of color.—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Using x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, scholars determined that the ancient off-white fluid was composed of calcite, huntite, and miniscule flecks of yellow orpiment, a highly toxic sulfide of arsenic that Egyptians also used in medicine to treat syphilis and malaria.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Game three offered a brief glimmer of order.—
Ryan Brennan
March 20,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Every repeat viewing of Abraham's performance reveals some new moment of humiliation — some fresh sickening glimmer of anguish that feels all too familiar.—
Devan Coggan,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This has become known as the Atomki anomaly, and many have suggested that a new particle, and a new, fundamental interaction (or fifth force) could be the key explanation behind these findings.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
19 Mar. 2026
-
These atomic structures serve as stable quantum bits (qubits), which can store and process quantum information and couple it to light particles.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Scatter 1–2 jalapeños, thinly sliced, over shrimp, then sprinkle 2 Tbsp.—
Hana Asbrink,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Scatter remaining strawberries on top of batter and sprinkle with demerara sugar.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Her zapping turns her entire head of hair — not just a streak — shocking white à la Jean Harlow, and leaves an oddly-appealing black blotch on her cheek.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Its purple black center was surrounded by blotches of varying shades and textures, raised or sunken at places.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Anyone with a shred of empathy would have a hard time understanding why a person would ever do this.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The offerings are pure Tennessee, with not a shred of brisket to be found.—
Robert F. Moss,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After a hot start to the weekend, temperatures are expected to continue rising in North Texas, bringing a little bit of summer into spring.—
Suryatapa Chakraborty,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Doing something about low reading scores was a political football for years until, just recently, the state finally declared a preference for using phonics to teach reading — a rare bit of progress.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Warm from the oven and dotted with beloved toppings (spicy banana peppers, olives, an anchovy or 10), each bite tastes almost exactly like your favorite slice.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
22 Mar. 2026
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The crown jewel, however, has to be the bar clad in celadon-green Sekoya marble and dotted with glittering bottles.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Speck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speck. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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