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
Zuzana Říhová, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
After a few days’ travel, some of the specks landed on a buoy floating in the North Atlantic off the coast of French Guyana.
—Zack Savitsky, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Now for other people whose crepe myrtles look like yours, black bark and white specks are classic signs of crepe myrtle scales.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2025
There’s nothing worse than applying a full face of makeup, only for your best mascara to end up in smears or black specks across your face.
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 10 Sep. 2025
For instance, the new findings suggest the green-toned specks in muddy clay found in the outcrop could contain the mineral vivianite, which the News and Views authors say can specifically shed light on certain kinds of redox reactions that may have taken place on Mars.
—Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Toothpaste specks needs to be removed from mirrors.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2025
In the show’s premiere episode, Knox arrives home after a night spent at Raffaele’s to find her front door open, specks of blood on the sink and a bloody bathroom mat.
—Nicole Briese, People.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Those four specks of brown, on the field of grass.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
The pattern is a brownish batik produced by specks of tobacco.
—Zuzana Říhová, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
After a few days’ travel, some of the specks landed on a buoy floating in the North Atlantic off the coast of French Guyana.
—Zack Savitsky, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Now for other people whose crepe myrtles look like yours, black bark and white specks are classic signs of crepe myrtle scales.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2025
There’s nothing worse than applying a full face of makeup, only for your best mascara to end up in smears or black specks across your face.
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 10 Sep. 2025
For instance, the new findings suggest the green-toned specks in muddy clay found in the outcrop could contain the mineral vivianite, which the News and Views authors say can specifically shed light on certain kinds of redox reactions that may have taken place on Mars.
—Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Toothpaste specks needs to be removed from mirrors.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2025
In the show’s premiere episode, Knox arrives home after a night spent at Raffaele’s to find her front door open, specks of blood on the sink and a bloody bathroom mat.
—Nicole Briese, People.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Those four specks of brown, on the field of grass.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specks
Noun
-
Yes, these flecks are seeds that were once inside of a vanilla bean, confirms Britton.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Sep. 2025
-
This uncanny coincidence — that the Earth’s radiation lines up with the energies of carbon dioxide’s mixed vibrational/rotational quantum state — is how this tiny trace of molecules, mere flecks in the air, completely dominates our climate.—
Joseph Howlett,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The cooler is built to handle sun, sand, and splashes with a UV-resistant exterior and crushproof interior walls.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Oct. 2025
-
From a bleak job hunt upon her arrival in 2016 to undergoing treatment for her second bout with breast cancer during the uncertainty and fear of COVID, Davis recalls her journey through raw vulnerability and splashes of humor.—
Essence,
Essence,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The small, icy world is home to water-spouting geysers that spew vapor and ice particles into space – offering a tangible clue to its subsurface saltwater ocean.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
For now, virtual particles are our best way to describe how particles behave.—
Dipangkar Dutta,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The shareable treat features Galactic Brownie ice cream, fudge drizzle, M&Ms candies, and Halloween sprinkles atop a double fudge brownie crust.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The show also sprinkles in factoids about Daniel’s military past, his upbringing in Italy and his fractured family dynamic.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The team had already animated a cartoon film of three anthropomorphic sausages running across the Milwaukee skyline on the big screen and when they were seen to arrive at the gates of the stadium, the characters would race across the scoreboard as digital dots.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Click the three dots in the top-right corner.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
During a season when even the most successful night of the year is marred by a devastating injury to the team’s best player, there are still glimmers of hope for the Dolphins.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Baker wisely doesn’t attempt to write entirely in Austen’s wry style, but glimmers do peek through.—
Barbara Ellis,
Denver Post,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Tutu Atwell’s role is perplexing Every fan base has some trademark bits.—
Nate Atkins,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The new Galactic Brownie flavor combines brownie batter ice cream, gooey brownie bits, creamy chocolate icing swirls, and rainbow chips that dazzle like the stars in the Milky Way.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Blood still regularly stains the floors of the Coliseum’s rings.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Specks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specks. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share