1
as in specks
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 pickles
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 stains
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 splashes
a very small amount
had only a spot of stew for dinner, as he wasn't very hungry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in locations
the area or space occupied by or intended for something
the cat grabbed my spot on the couch the minute I stood up
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in dots
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 notices
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
3
as in sprays
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on
the TV networks had spotted reporters all over the state for the election
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spots
Calmatters, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026
Nick Pivetta, Joe Musgrove and Michael King already have spots in San Diego’s rotation.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Come winter, locals flock into spots like Casamento’s, exchanging laughs and slurping dozens of oysters.
—Outside, 17 Feb. 2026
On Wednesday, many spots will get a break, but snow will linger to the north and may drop far enough south to hit the Twin Cities.
—Joseph Dames, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
Even if your lawn is full and lush, often a bit of reseeding is needed occasionally to fill in bare spots.
—Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 17 Feb. 2026
That means there’s four or five starting spots in the secondary to fill in one offseason, which won’t be easy, or cheap.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2026
Seek refuge at rest areas or protected spots.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2026
Lincoln’s Rock has long been one of the Blue Mountains’ quieter sunset spots — a rocky overhang with sweeping views across eucalyptus valleys just outside Sydney.
—Trista Kurniawan, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Marina Johnson, IndyStar, 18 Feb. 2026
For the first time, Anthropic spent millions of dollars on several satiric Super Bowl spots.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
If a camera spots a dog that resembles the missing pet, the pet owner is alerted to a potential match.
—Kelsey Monstrola, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
Champions League spots As many as nine teams could feasibly be involved in the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League, assuming Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa can already count on a place in Europe’s elite club competition.
—Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
The pamphlets include information on how to use the whistle if someone spots immigration agents in the neighborhood and the phone number for Voces de la Frontera’s rapid response hotline.
—Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Occasionally took off to spend months chasing waves around the world at some of the greatest surf spots, endless summering it.
—Scott Eden, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
Enterprising group member Freddy (Delaney Quinn) spots the paperback Josh was reading in the trash bin, spattered in blood.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
Framed photos in one section of the hall document the city spots where BearLeek chef Harrison Porter takes his own mid-shift smoke breaks.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
Jessica Holmes, education program budget manager at the Department of Finance, said that approach was the only way to guarantee there would be spots for 4-year-olds statewide, even in areas where private child care providers are scarce.
—Calmatters, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026
Nick Pivetta, Joe Musgrove and Michael King already have spots in San Diego’s rotation.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Come winter, locals flock into spots like Casamento’s, exchanging laughs and slurping dozens of oysters.
—Outside, 17 Feb. 2026
On Wednesday, many spots will get a break, but snow will linger to the north and may drop far enough south to hit the Twin Cities.
—Joseph Dames, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
Even if your lawn is full and lush, often a bit of reseeding is needed occasionally to fill in bare spots.
—Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 17 Feb. 2026
That means there’s four or five starting spots in the secondary to fill in one offseason, which won’t be easy, or cheap.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2026
Seek refuge at rest areas or protected spots.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2026
Lincoln’s Rock has long been one of the Blue Mountains’ quieter sunset spots — a rocky overhang with sweeping views across eucalyptus valleys just outside Sydney.
—Trista Kurniawan, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
The start is determined by a moon sighting committee in Saudi Arabia, and Ramadan begins the day after the committee spots the new crescent moon.
—Marina Johnson, IndyStar, 18 Feb. 2026
For the first time, Anthropic spent millions of dollars on several satiric Super Bowl spots.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
If a camera spots a dog that resembles the missing pet, the pet owner is alerted to a potential match.
—Kelsey Monstrola, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
Champions League spots As many as nine teams could feasibly be involved in the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League, assuming Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa can already count on a place in Europe’s elite club competition.
—Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
The pamphlets include information on how to use the whistle if someone spots immigration agents in the neighborhood and the phone number for Voces de la Frontera’s rapid response hotline.
—Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Occasionally took off to spend months chasing waves around the world at some of the greatest surf spots, endless summering it.
—Scott Eden, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
Enterprising group member Freddy (Delaney Quinn) spots the paperback Josh was reading in the trash bin, spattered in blood.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
Framed photos in one section of the hall document the city spots where BearLeek chef Harrison Porter takes his own mid-shift smoke breaks.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spots
Noun
-
Tiny beads of blood had seeped out and dried into tiny specks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Feb. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Capers, lemon juice, and pickles set this snack apart from the rest.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Watts-That Soul Food Southern fried pork chops and catfish share a menu with wings, Kool-Aid pickles and more at this soul food truck.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Unexplained stains on a new pair of trousers.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
-
For older water stains or for camouflaging other stains, Mock advises following a process that aims to blend the stain with the surrounding area, as lifting the stain entirely isn’t possible without discoloring the leather.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Every room is understated and done in grays, white marbles, and earth tones—plus splashes of blue representing Lake Michigan—and comes with one of four types of soaking tubs, all deliciously inviting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The collection, all black save for splashes of red and silky cream and deep brown plum moments, wasn't worth the wait but had bright spots in utility-style vests and jackets, a black funnel-neck piece with tiers of straps down and around like a straightjacket.—
Anika Reed,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
These locations are in addition to the two stores Trader Joe's announced earlier this month, which are planned for Louisiana and New York.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Here are some parties, crawfish boils, king cake locations, and more for the holiday.—
Ray Padilla,
Louisville Courier Journal,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Barnett dots up Knight for a 57-yard catch-and-run.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Oct. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
When someone gets up to go to the bathroom, everyone notices everything!—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
21 Feb. 2026
-
At one point, the man, whom authorities describe as approximately 5 feet 9 to 5 feet 10 with an average build, notices the camera on the front porch and tries to cover the lens with his hand.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Trapped in a prickly relationship with a cactus, his life changes overnight when Swift sprays herself with Opalite and is magically transported into his living room.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Tired of the constant cuts, Gleeson orders Opalite and sprays his cactus, causing Swift to magically appear in his house.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spots. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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