as in dotted
marked with spots
a speckled dog
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sprinkled
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
speckled the cookies with colored sugar
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 speckled
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2026
The actress wore a long-sleeve top with puffy sleeves rolled to the elbows and contrasting fabric between black and a speckled camel tone.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 26 Jan. 2026
Even the linen neps, which give it a stylish, speckled appearance, are random, so no two pieces are identical.
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2025
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
Tiny galaxy frogs These otherworldly creatures are known for their cosmic star-speckled appearance.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 18 Dec. 2025
Cyclamens have attractive speckled foliage, and the flowers come in a range of colors.
—Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 29 Nov. 2025
The design of the Grosche Milano Stone stovetop espresso maker, a speckled stone that looks like the bottom of a creek, gives your stovetop coffee maker a contemporary look that’s suited for a modern kitchen.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 10 Oct. 2025
This golden bouquet, which comes in a speckled brown ceramic pot, adds moody vibes and a pop of fall-friendly color, to the countertops, table, or coffee table.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2025
Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
This Scottish name means speckled or freckled and has become way more commonly used than its original spelling—Brice—over the decades.
—Anna Earl, Parents, 8 Feb. 2026
Last weekend, more than 400 shacks speckled the frozen bay, Bloedorn recalled, as ice anglers flocked to the Upper Peninsula to take advantage of perfect ice conditions.
—Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
This cheese is described as a classic, handmade Wisconsin Original Colby that’s speckled with caraway seeds.
—Michele Herrmann, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
As for her nails, white ovals speckled in purple polka dots completed her Dior moment.
—Essence, 21 Jan. 2026
Kirkland Signature Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar Cake The bottom layer of the new item is a rich chocolate cake, followed by a generous layer of creamy mousse speckled with chunks of chocolate chip cookie dough.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Jan. 2026
Inside, a long, gray bar — speckled like the surface of the moon — sits near a hi-fi stereo system.
—Kansas City Star, 26 Nov. 2025
Westslope cuttys are green in color, have a bright slash of orange around their lower jaw, and are speckled with non-concentric spots.
—Will Rice, Outside, 13 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Variegation takes on many forms, from speckled or spotted foliage to dramatic striping.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2026
The actress wore a long-sleeve top with puffy sleeves rolled to the elbows and contrasting fabric between black and a speckled camel tone.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 26 Jan. 2026
Even the linen neps, which give it a stylish, speckled appearance, are random, so no two pieces are identical.
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2025
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
Tiny galaxy frogs These otherworldly creatures are known for their cosmic star-speckled appearance.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 18 Dec. 2025
Cyclamens have attractive speckled foliage, and the flowers come in a range of colors.
—Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 29 Nov. 2025
The design of the Grosche Milano Stone stovetop espresso maker, a speckled stone that looks like the bottom of a creek, gives your stovetop coffee maker a contemporary look that’s suited for a modern kitchen.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 10 Oct. 2025
This golden bouquet, which comes in a speckled brown ceramic pot, adds moody vibes and a pop of fall-friendly color, to the countertops, table, or coffee table.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
In the stock image of a royal robe lined with white fur speckled in black, each speckle represents the tail of one dead stoat.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
This Scottish name means speckled or freckled and has become way more commonly used than its original spelling—Brice—over the decades.
—Anna Earl, Parents, 8 Feb. 2026
Last weekend, more than 400 shacks speckled the frozen bay, Bloedorn recalled, as ice anglers flocked to the Upper Peninsula to take advantage of perfect ice conditions.
—Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
This cheese is described as a classic, handmade Wisconsin Original Colby that’s speckled with caraway seeds.
—Michele Herrmann, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
As for her nails, white ovals speckled in purple polka dots completed her Dior moment.
—Essence, 21 Jan. 2026
Kirkland Signature Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar Cake The bottom layer of the new item is a rich chocolate cake, followed by a generous layer of creamy mousse speckled with chunks of chocolate chip cookie dough.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Jan. 2026
Inside, a long, gray bar — speckled like the surface of the moon — sits near a hi-fi stereo system.
—Kansas City Star, 26 Nov. 2025
Westslope cuttys are green in color, have a bright slash of orange around their lower jaw, and are speckled with non-concentric spots.
—Will Rice, Outside, 13 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speckled
Adjective
-
As each participant started getting comfortable with the machine sewing a maze on paper, going around dotted lines, both mother and daughter got into the flow.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Pink is then used for the leather mustache and an insole with a dotted spiral pattern.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
These options are also useful for other forms of medication, including powders that may need to be sprinkled within the pocket and then closed off.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
These people wore sackcloth, were sprinkled with ashes and remained apart until they were reconciled with the Christian community.—
Chris Sims,
Louisville Courier Journal,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Meanwhile her partner, Broderick went the traditional route with a black suit, white button-up shirt, and a light-colored tie.—
Elle Meier,
InStyle,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The luxury hotel chain creative director, 47, wore a dark-colored peacoat, grey sweater and slacks.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Rounds of roasted purple sweet potatoes arrive mounded with a mixture of salsa macha and butter, and liberally flecked with chives.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Outside, a man wearing a leather biker vest bearing the insignia of the Latin American Motorcycle Association, his blond beard flecked with ice crystals, directed a line of cars through the snow.—
Adam Serwer,
The Atlantic,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Gooday explained that red hone is blue hone that has been stained by iron materials.—
Asuka Koda,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Classic raised garden beds made of wood and stained to protect them from the elements are a good way to pack a lot of plants into a small space.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But Tariq’s body was already cold, and his skin was mottled.—
Ben Taub,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Shiny and dark evergreen foliage is held aloft on strong, arching stems mottled with purple flecks.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
21 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The dramatic fading of this star, located around 3,200 light-years away in the Monoceros constellation, was first spotted at the end of 2024.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Simply being spotted around somebody discarding garbage on the ground can lead to a littering citation regardless of guilt.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Speckled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speckled. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
