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
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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
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
Keep an eye out for tiny brown or orange specks, especially around door edges, undercarriage, and seams.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Keep an eye out for tiny brown or orange specks, especially around door edges, undercarriage and seams.
—Jenna Prestininzi, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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
Keep an eye out for tiny brown or orange specks, especially around door edges, undercarriage, and seams.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Keep an eye out for tiny brown or orange specks, especially around door edges, undercarriage and seams.
—Jenna Prestininzi, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specks
Noun
-
The light had a wintry grain, with flecks of color suspended in it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Vermiculite, a fine, puffed, gold flecks mica, which helps with drainage.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The locks are designed for outdoor installations too, with an IP65 weather resistance rating for protection against rain, splashes and dust.—
Paul Lamkin,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
Try your coffee warm or iced, with some cinnamon and a few splashes of unsweetened almond milk.—
Karen Berger,
Verywell Health,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Avoid spraying when wind speeds exceed 5 miles per hour and use a low spray pressure to increase droplet size, as larger particles are less likely to move with the wind.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
-
One is a compass-like mechanism, whereby the Earth exerts a pull on magnetic particles in a bird’s upper beak that relays directional information via a large nerve in the cranium.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 May 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
-
Her oval nails are painted in a khaki base coat with big, blue, swirly dots.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
25 May 2026
-
The Golden Knights are great between the dots and, clearly, in between the Avs’ ears.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
While math achievement saw a rebound after the pandemic, reading continued to decline through 2024, with 2025 offering glimmers of a turnaround, the report said.—
Paris Barraza,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
-
The Melissa is a slightly wider shape for more coverage and balance on longer or wider faces, with a chunky gold hinge that glimmers in the sun.—
Kelsey Legg,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Now, though, scientists have discovered bits of tissue removed from a species of sea cucumber called Psolus fabricii can keep on living indefinitely if they’re left in ordinary seawater.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
-
Just non-stop dribbles, counter-attacks, through balls, amazing finishes… all of football’s good bits.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Every failure of the state now stains the turban as well as the uniform.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Specks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specks. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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