as in blotches
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part
the bleach left a small white splotch on my shirt
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in sprinkles
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
ink from a leaking pen had badly splotched his shirt pocket
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of splotches
Jane Bua, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
Mold doesn’t always announce itself with dark splotches on a wall or ceiling.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 9 May 2026
Die große Nacht im Eimer (The Big Night Down the Drain), made that year, depicts a figure of indiscernible age with a cadaverous pallor and yellow splotches, brandishing an oversized phallus beneath a soot-black veil.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 30 Apr. 2026
In the distance, splotches of purple and fuchsia seem to explode.
—Heather Greenwood Davis, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2026
New foliage emerges pink and fades to pure white before developing green splotches that give mature foliage lovely green and white variegation.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026
The alternative rocker included a close-up photo of her infected leg, which was covered in red splotches.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Maybe, maybe, maybe— Hans turned back to his board, red splotches rising on his cheeks.
—Ben Mezrich, Vanity Fair, 6 Apr. 2026
Benedikt Althaus, who goes by Xariif, wore a tiger fursuit draped in red, white and blue stripes and splotches, reminiscent of the American flag.
—Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
The lobby’s elevator doors opened and a woman with a giant white saucer on her head and a matching floor-length coat, embellished with red splotches that evoked stab wounds, slowly exited.
—Jane Bua, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
Mold doesn’t always announce itself with dark splotches on a wall or ceiling.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 9 May 2026
Die große Nacht im Eimer (The Big Night Down the Drain), made that year, depicts a figure of indiscernible age with a cadaverous pallor and yellow splotches, brandishing an oversized phallus beneath a soot-black veil.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 30 Apr. 2026
In the distance, splotches of purple and fuchsia seem to explode.
—Heather Greenwood Davis, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2026
New foliage emerges pink and fades to pure white before developing green splotches that give mature foliage lovely green and white variegation.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026
The alternative rocker included a close-up photo of her infected leg, which was covered in red splotches.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Maybe, maybe, maybe— Hans turned back to his board, red splotches rising on his cheeks.
—Ben Mezrich, Vanity Fair, 6 Apr. 2026
Benedikt Althaus, who goes by Xariif, wore a tiger fursuit draped in red, white and blue stripes and splotches, reminiscent of the American flag.
—Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for splotches
Noun
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Soon, red blotches were sprouting on his skin.—
Mary Beth Sheridan,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
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These grow to form blotches that have lighter and darker zones appearing as irregular concentric rings that grow throughout the season until the entire leaf turns black and dies.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
Verb
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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
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The person who seems least surprised by it all is Matsuzawa, perhaps the league’s only 27-year-old rookie with flecks of gray in his hair.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
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Powerful new lasers and x-rays are enabling geologists like Korolev, a researcher at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City, to probe increasingly small flecks of minerals in deep diamonds.—
James Dinneen,
Scientific American,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Prepare to be dazzled from Warsaw’s highest viewing terrace atop Varso Tower, which proudly dots the skyline, before eating your way through the innovative food halls that define the coolest neighborhoods.—
Kasia Dietz,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2026
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Japanese linens top the bed, and designer furniture dots the living space.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
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
Verb
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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
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Every failure of the state now stains the turban as well as the uniform.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Muted guitars twirl in curlicued shapes, fleshed out by harp, woodwinds, and brass; clanking bells and mbira-like harmonics flare up in quiet patches, and background vocals fan across the stereo field.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
19 May 2026
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The dog, who is gray with white patches, was stuck in the space for two days, according to News Channel 5 Nashville.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
Verb
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The brands that win are the ones where the audience spots the tension first.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
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The uncanny vision is made even eerier when Hoop spots her late mother dragging her five children through the human tide.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Splotches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/splotches. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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