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
Riley Jones, Footwear News, 22 Feb. 2026
Together, the splotches represent a kind of neural signature for craving.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Deer print nails give classic polka dots a more rustic, fanciful feel as the precise dots are replaced with freehand splotches.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 28 Jan. 2026
The sun’s activity rises and falls over an 11-year cycle that is measured by the number of sunspots, dark splotches that dot our star’s surface and that are associated with magnetic storms.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 19 Nov. 2025
Satellite photos of New Carlisle, Indiana, show greenish splotches of farmland transformed into unmistakable industrial parks in less than a year’s time.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025
Those orange splotches on the canister surface?
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 23 Oct. 2025
These splotches eventually turn into tube-like structures that spread over affected apple leaves.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2025
In certain places the canopy of tree crowns was so dense that only splotches of sunlight could penetrate it, and the understory of vegetation was negligible.
—Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
Various images circulating on social media show the Rigid Levi’s x Air Jordan 3 SP with splotches of what appears to be mold across its blue denim upper.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 22 Feb. 2026
Together, the splotches represent a kind of neural signature for craving.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Deer print nails give classic polka dots a more rustic, fanciful feel as the precise dots are replaced with freehand splotches.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 28 Jan. 2026
The sun’s activity rises and falls over an 11-year cycle that is measured by the number of sunspots, dark splotches that dot our star’s surface and that are associated with magnetic storms.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 19 Nov. 2025
Satellite photos of New Carlisle, Indiana, show greenish splotches of farmland transformed into unmistakable industrial parks in less than a year’s time.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025
Those orange splotches on the canister surface?
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 23 Oct. 2025
These splotches eventually turn into tube-like structures that spread over affected apple leaves.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2025
In certain places the canopy of tree crowns was so dense that only splotches of sunlight could penetrate it, and the understory of vegetation was negligible.
—Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for splotches
Noun
-
Its purple black center was surrounded by blotches of varying shades and textures, raised or sunken at places.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Feb. 2026
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These blotches are fairly plant friendly and produce what is known as algal leaf spot.—
Brian Bell,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Much like Knives Out, the movie takes a much more lighthearted approach and sprinkles humor throughout.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
15 Dec. 2025
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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
Noun
-
The bit of glimmer is echoed in subtle flecks on the dancers’ shimmery white unitards.—
Lauren Warnecke,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
-
That, plus distinct green (herbs) and black (pepper) flecks, made this contender feel higher-end, inspiring us to declare Trader Joe’s the best ranch dressing overall.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Barnett dots up Knight for a 57-yard catch-and-run.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Oct. 2025
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Rather than the stiff alien chitchat that dots his own screenplays, the characters in The Favourite trade the witty, venomous bon mots of The Great creator Tony McNamara.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Tiny beads of blood had seeped out and dried into tiny specks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Feb. 2026
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Also known as sunspots, solar lentigines, or liver spots, age spots are additional specks and bits of pigment caused by excessive sun exposure.—
Essence,
Essence,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The piercing doesn't necessarily damage the trees, but their excrement, which is high in sugar, stains the trees and blocks photosynthesis, which eventually suffocates the trees, the researchers said.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
9 Feb. 2026
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This mixture attacks stains a bit stronger than the water solution.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Instead of skittering off, the hot droplets start sticking and seeping into the surface texture, and leave wet patches behind.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Feb. 2026
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The planet’s auroras appear as rosy, glowing patches that extend above the visible edges of Uranus’s atmosphere in the JWST images, which also capture the ice giant’s delicate ring system and the bright clouds around its polar cap.—
Lee Billings,
Scientific American,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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SacRT will be using the data to perform field surveys of the danger spots and come up with potential safety ideas.—
James Taylor,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
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Bateman’s festival comes at a moment when Gen AI is starting to engulf Hollywood and creative work, as Seedance videos featuring Hollywood celebs go viral, Sora is gaining a foothold via Disney’s deal with OpenAI and Super Bowl spots fully incorporate the tech.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Splotches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/splotches. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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