1
as in flecks
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
Relevance
2
as in splashes
a very small amount
not a speck of explanation to accompany the book's pictures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in particles
a very small piece
a speck of dust was preventing the laser from reading the disc
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sprinkles
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
dirt that had specked the windows of the factory for ages
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 specks
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
As for the killings of his wife and in-laws, Zeigler’s lawyers contend the real killer would have blood spatter on their clothes, which Zeigler did not save for two specks of Perry Edwards’ blood on his shoes.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
The specks of warmth salvaged from the inside of the patrol car, which had clung to his skin under his gray sweatpants and hooded striped sweatshirt, soon fell away.
—USA Today, 8 Mar. 2026
This combination of rich green and fine gold specks is simple, easy to create, and always timeless.
—Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 7 Mar. 2026
Subjects are often, to the naked eye, tiny specks of light surrounded by darkness.
—Tantse Walter, Space.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Tiny beads of blood had seeped out and dried into tiny specks.
—Literary Hub, 9 Feb. 2026
Also known as sunspots, solar lentigines, or liver spots, age spots are additional specks and bits of pigment caused by excessive sun exposure.
—Essence, 27 Jan. 2026
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
As for the killings of his wife and in-laws, Zeigler’s lawyers contend the real killer would have blood spatter on their clothes, which Zeigler did not save for two specks of Perry Edwards’ blood on his shoes.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
The specks of warmth salvaged from the inside of the patrol car, which had clung to his skin under his gray sweatpants and hooded striped sweatshirt, soon fell away.
—USA Today, 8 Mar. 2026
This combination of rich green and fine gold specks is simple, easy to create, and always timeless.
—Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 7 Mar. 2026
Subjects are often, to the naked eye, tiny specks of light surrounded by darkness.
—Tantse Walter, Space.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Tiny beads of blood had seeped out and dried into tiny specks.
—Literary Hub, 9 Feb. 2026
Also known as sunspots, solar lentigines, or liver spots, age spots are additional specks and bits of pigment caused by excessive sun exposure.
—Essence, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specks
Noun
-
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
-
Jade feels calming yet luxurious, especially when paired with flecks of gold leaf.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Carolina Panthers made a few huge splashes on Monday — one within the hour of the legal tampering window opening up, in fact.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Visitors can expect yellows and splashes of orange, with more flowers sprouting every day.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The perhaps ironic primary cause is regulations on international shipping reducing pollutant particles, which reflected sunlight into space.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Some of the dust particles reached the ground as rain and coated the surface with a brown colored residue.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Groff sprinkles this punchy, athletic syntax over a slew of intricate settings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Much like Knives Out, the movie takes a much more lighthearted approach and sprinkles humor throughout.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
15 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
These dots in your vision are generally harmless, but can be cause for concern in certain circumstances.—
Cathy Nelson,
Health,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Think bold, eye-catching florals, classy polka-dots, and summer-ready gingham for as low as $15.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The audience gets glimmers of Katie and Greg’s relationship, but the show is bogged down by dull characters like the policeman who seems to have it out for Greg, and even by its focus on Archie’s point of view, which is just a depiction of narcissism and a formulaic pseudo-midlife crisis.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The sun and light glimmers and shines off this material and the entire interior looks, and feels, slick like a black lacquer has been applied throughout.—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
These brief bits find themselves among the fine art works curated from 32 of the hundreds of painters, sculptors, illustrators and photographers who have traveled to Ossabaw Island over the past 65 years.—
Amy Paige Condon,
AJC.com,
12 Mar. 2026
-
To be more sensitive to modern audiences, O’Brien said that Howl’s revival would take fewer song requests while softening the onstage comedy bits, adding that its modern music and food menu of wings and flatbreads would also drive the bar’s success.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Every failure of the state now stains the turban as well as the uniform.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The piercing doesn't necessarily damage the trees, but their excrement, which is high in sugar, stains the trees and blocks photosynthesis, which eventually suffocates the trees, the researchers said.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Specks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specks. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
