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
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Recent Examples of specks
Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 9 June 2026
But such interludes add up to small specks of stormclouds in the show’s otherwise sunny skies.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 2 June 2026
Most astronomers now agree that each of these minuscule crimson specks—which bear a striking resemblance to enormous, faraway stars—actually has a burgeoning black hole at its center.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 27 May 2026
As in Kourliandski’s quartet, specks and splatters of sound are interspersed with silences.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Their faces lost distinction, their bodies smaller and smaller and then only specks in the overvoid.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 18 May 2026
A lot of recipes call for white pepper to keep the appearance of dishes clean (think white or cheese sauces), without any dark specks.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2026
From the summit of Monte Gambarogno, the towns hugging the shore of Lake Maggiore appear as tiny specks, dwarfed by the snowcapped southern Alps to the north.
—Lisa Kadane, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2026
Silvery or mottled patches on leaves, brown or distorted petal edges, dark specks (feces) or flower buds that fail to open are signs of thrips.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
This looks like tiny black or reddish-brown specks that resemble coffee grounds.
—Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 9 June 2026
But such interludes add up to small specks of stormclouds in the show’s otherwise sunny skies.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 2 June 2026
Most astronomers now agree that each of these minuscule crimson specks—which bear a striking resemblance to enormous, faraway stars—actually has a burgeoning black hole at its center.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 27 May 2026
As in Kourliandski’s quartet, specks and splatters of sound are interspersed with silences.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Their faces lost distinction, their bodies smaller and smaller and then only specks in the overvoid.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 18 May 2026
A lot of recipes call for white pepper to keep the appearance of dishes clean (think white or cheese sauces), without any dark specks.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2026
From the summit of Monte Gambarogno, the towns hugging the shore of Lake Maggiore appear as tiny specks, dwarfed by the snowcapped southern Alps to the north.
—Lisa Kadane, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2026
Silvery or mottled patches on leaves, brown or distorted petal edges, dark specks (feces) or flower buds that fail to open are signs of thrips.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specks
Noun
-
From the train windows, expect to spot the aquamarine waves of Ligurian Sea crashing against the stony coast, candy-colored houses huddled together on the hillsides, tiny wooden boats gliding through village harbors, and flecks of golden-sand beaches.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 June 2026
-
The light had a wintry grain, with flecks of color suspended in it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
The lines are clean and sharp, the palette muted, approaching grayscale (which makes later splashes of color, like in the gaudy decor of a talk show or the blood-rust-red of a post-apocalyptic sky, pop even more), and motion within the frame is kept to a minimum.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
12 June 2026
-
Hockney’s paintings of pool water and splashes demonstrated his obsession with capturing elemental natural phenomena, even in suburban settings.—
Mark Rozzo,
Vanity Fair,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Seasonal allergies are primarily caused by trees and grasses, whose tiny pollen particles travel on the wind.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
10 June 2026
-
The experiment produced nanophase iron, tiny metallic particles that are widely observed in lunar soil and are considered a key signature of space weathering.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
In honor of the Niners’ 80th season, the video takes us on a house tour through the decades that sprinkles their opponents’ objects in each room.—
Jayna Bardahl,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
Pastry chef Sahar Shomali, Kouzeh’s owner, sprinkles her version with black and white sesame seeds, cumin and fresh dill.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
The interns cannot connect the dots looking forward.—
Chris Perry,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
Little red dots first started to turn up when the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) began sending data back to Earth in the summer of 2022.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
The chance of advancing from the group phase isn’t far-fetched, with a diverse squad of new and seasoned players and recent results that offer glimmers of hope for a run in the tournament.—
Jim Sciutto,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
-
At the outset this year, however, glimmers of hope appeared to emerge.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
After hearing these songs, the happier ones at the beginning of the album reveal bits of shadow that Rodrigo has built into them to presage what’s to come — to presage what always comes.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
-
Work was completed on the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool last weekend, with attention turning to other bits of the president’s construction projects, such as his triumphal arch.—
Rob Crilly,
The Washington Examiner,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
When that protective finish gets damaged, the toilet actually stains easier and is harder to keep clean over time.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
24 May 2026
-
What Sacks doesn’t get is that by financing and diplomatically supporting Israel, our country makes the crimes of the Israeli government possible, which stains America’s reputation in the world and drains our Treasury.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Specks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specks. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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