1
as in patch
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part
in summer the white coat of the snow leopard is studded with brownish black spots
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in predicament
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape
we're in a bit of a spot right now with our mortgage payments
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in stain
a mark of guilt or disgrace
scandalous conduct that will forever be a spot upon the family name
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in splash
a very small amount
had only a spot of stew for dinner, as he wasn't very hungry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to sprinkle
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
to give the effect of sunlight on water, the artist spotted the lake in his painting with flecks of gold paint
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to notice
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
I spotted both of them as they tried to sneak out the back door
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in chance
Related Words
Dissimilar 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 spot
Roger Huang, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Fain made a similar argument himself during an interview on CBS’s Face the Nation, decrying Trump’s anti-union actions while saying his tariffs are spot on.
—Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 31 Mar. 2025
Quincy Green, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint, Hugh-Baby’s BBQ and Burger Shop, and Sweetmilk, are all celebrations of Southern cuisine, covering everything from traditional breakfast inspired by Martin’s grandmother to a classic mid-South burger spot.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
Routh allegedly came within a few hundred yards of Trump before a Secret Service agent spotted his rifle poking out of a tree line.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spot
Noun
The state of Wisconsin’s pension fund has adopted Bitcoin through investment in spot Bitcoin ETFs.
—Roger Huang, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Fain made a similar argument himself during an interview on CBS’s Face the Nation, decrying Trump’s anti-union actions while saying his tariffs are spot on.
—Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
This year’s lineup featured Armanii, Leon Thomas, Ravyn Lenae, Odeal, and Gelo, drawing fans who lined up hours before the show to secure their spot inside the historic venue.
—Quincy Green, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint, Hugh-Baby’s BBQ and Burger Shop, and Sweetmilk, are all celebrations of Southern cuisine, covering everything from traditional breakfast inspired by Martin’s grandmother to a classic mid-South burger spot.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Enforcing academic integrity policies has become more complicated, since use of AI is hard to spot and even harder to prove, Fitzsimmons said.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
Routh allegedly came within a few hundred yards of Trump before a Secret Service agent spotted his rifle poking out of a tree line.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spot
Noun
-
Say goodbye to bare patches and thin grass.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Based on the 2023 video game, an unnamed protagonist (Kazunari Ninomiya) gets trapped in an endlessly repeating patch of a subway station hallway, only able to get closer to an exit by identifying bizarre and incongruent aberrations in his environment.—
William Earl,
Variety,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
With the bullish determination of Ed and the wide-eyed second sight of Lorraine, the Warrens’ only child sells a clear vision of right and wrong when news of the Smurls’ predicament comes their way.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
7 Sep. 2025
-
To that end, Johnson and the CTU’s Springfield strategy has been at the forefront of all their public messaging on how the school district gets out of this fiscal predicament.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Pre-treat any stains with a mild stain remover and blot with a dry white cloth to remove as much stain as possible prior to washing.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
-
This process lifts stains without increasing their surface area, which can be an issue when scrubbing by hand with a cloth or brush.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Right now, the studio seems focused on delivering quality, memorable, and creative games that people want to play not just because of the brand name splash screen that will appear before the main menu.—
David Jagneaux,
Forbes.com,
10 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
-
But thanks to its size and location – spread out over 1,700 miles across the Pacific – Hawaii was once again spared a direct landfall.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
And occultations themselves depend on the viewer's location on Earth, as the viewing angle shifts with latitude.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Drizzle caramel over pistachios, sprinkle with salt, and set aside to cool.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The clinical nature of the autopsy report is stark against the remnants of Pauline’s humanity, sprinkled throughout the 11 pages.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
The Tennessean,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Leaders need to practice empathy by noticing when silence lingers in a meeting, when a camera remains off, or when fatigue from time zones takes its toll.—
Matthew C. Meade,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Later, while sifting through their collections, researchers noticed three unfamiliar-looking fish, the 2025 study said.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Leaving the liner hanging on the shower rod and curtain rings, spray the solution generously all over the shower curtain liner.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Villareal personally sprayed 158 helmets, sometimes spending upward of 15 hours a day working to get the BSU gear ready on time.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spot. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share