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
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
There were only a few specks of crumbs left behind, which made hand-washing effortless.
—Mark Marino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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
There were only a few specks of crumbs left behind, which made hand-washing effortless.
—Mark Marino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specks
Noun
-
Its black and white or brown flecks convey a fresh, modern feel that's ideal for breaking away from the tyranny of basics.—
María Munsuri,
Glamour,
24 Aug. 2025
-
Although other pests cause similar damage, thrips damage is often associate with numerous small flecks of dark green to black fecal matter.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The water-resistant outer material guards your essentials against splashes, while elastic straps and multiple pockets help keep your bottles upright.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Sep. 2025
-
And the American redstart — a jetblack little fellow with orange splashes — pretty much stopped breeding here in the early 2000s.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This area of open magnetic fields more easily releases charged particles into space.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
It is composed of smaller particles called quarks and gluons, bound by the strong interaction.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
While players watch dots appear and reach for the A button, the mod races to get a response from the AI model and translate it into the game's dialog format.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Connecting The Dots B2B marketers have to be brilliant at connecting the dots.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Almost certainly out this week also is injured receiver Xavier Worthy (shoulder), who provided most of the scant glimmers of hope in the Super Bowl with eight catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns.—
Vahe Gregorian,
Kansas City Star,
11 Sep. 2025
-
There were glimmers of the magnificent past at the 2024 French Open against Iga Swiatek when Osaka won the second set 6-1 and was within a point of going 5-1 up in the decider.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The goal is to sit at the center of every money move—paying rent, parking spare cash in a three-month T-bill, even accessing emergency funds on a Sunday—while quietly automating the bits that don't need hands-on attention.—
Jamie Elkaleh,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Scientists thought these spiky bits might be spiny scales, like those found on the bodies of rays and sharks.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Gopher snakes tend to be tan-colored with large square brown blotches or saddles along their backs and smaller gray spots on their sides.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
At one station, congregants pick up a scallop shell, a physical reminder of the pilgrimage through life, and dip it in water and grains of sand.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Meanwhile, just two milligrams of fentanyl, the size of just a few grains of sand, can result in an overdose, according to the website for Customs and Border Protection.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Specks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specks. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share