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
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 spots
Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
Sacramento County health inspectors closed the Sacramento Vietnamese restaurant after finding 38 dead and live German cockroaches at spots including under the three-compartment warewashing sink and at the water heater.
—Sacbee.com, 31 Oct. 2025
In some spots on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, though, oysters aren’t settling, despite the ostensibly favorable conditions.
—JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025
Espinal was an asset on defense at several positions , including third base, second base and the corner outfield spots.
—Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
The 11-mile one-way loop leads you through a valley speckled with historic buildings, trailheads, scenic picnic spots, and grassy meadows that offer wildlife sightings right outside the car window.
—AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025
The Maybourne Beverly Hills Pups dine alongside their humans in Beverly Hills at Dante, The Terrace or The Maybourne Café, and the concierge is happy to book reservations at pet-friendly spots around town.
—Beth Landman, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2025
With Southwest, Eastern Hills and Western Hills still needing wins to lock up spots, two victories for Carter-Riverside could go a long way.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2025
As Snell continued to tire and miss his spots, Toronto’s opportunities kept flowing.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
On his daily jog, Donald spots Lee heading to his car, stopping to scratch his back on the flagstone façade of Donald’s mistress’s house, right on schedule.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2025
All the while, Cook spots a cutback lane to the interior, gives a couple of setup steps and zooms up the field for another big gain.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Then, one of the Cochise County Sheriff’s deputies spots a suspect’s gray sedan parked outside a nearby ATM.
—Avery Schmitz, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
There are countless idyllic South Florida spots to watch the sun rise out of the Atlantic Ocean.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025
As the fight is being broken up, Ellen spots her brother with his gun aimed, apparently at Arthur.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Homeowner spots first blue jay and green jay hybrid in Texas.
—Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Yelp only allowed up to five spots per metro area to ensure geographic diversity, so four Phoenix spots receiving the honor is a noteworthy number.
—Endia Fontanez, AZCentral.com, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
Crowdsourced review website Yelp called on to its elite members to rank the best places to get chocolate treats in the United States, and the reviews say one of the top spots is in Kansas City.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
Sacramento County health inspectors closed the Sacramento Vietnamese restaurant after finding 38 dead and live German cockroaches at spots including under the three-compartment warewashing sink and at the water heater.
—Sacbee.com, 31 Oct. 2025
In some spots on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, though, oysters aren’t settling, despite the ostensibly favorable conditions.
—JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025
Espinal was an asset on defense at several positions , including third base, second base and the corner outfield spots.
—Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
The 11-mile one-way loop leads you through a valley speckled with historic buildings, trailheads, scenic picnic spots, and grassy meadows that offer wildlife sightings right outside the car window.
—AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025
The Maybourne Beverly Hills Pups dine alongside their humans in Beverly Hills at Dante, The Terrace or The Maybourne Café, and the concierge is happy to book reservations at pet-friendly spots around town.
—Beth Landman, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2025
With Southwest, Eastern Hills and Western Hills still needing wins to lock up spots, two victories for Carter-Riverside could go a long way.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2025
As Snell continued to tire and miss his spots, Toronto’s opportunities kept flowing.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
Take the quiz here … SECONDHAND SECRETS – Bargain hunter spots potential medieval treasures at thrift shop for $30.
—FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
On his daily jog, Donald spots Lee heading to his car, stopping to scratch his back on the flagstone façade of Donald’s mistress’s house, right on schedule.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2025
All the while, Cook spots a cutback lane to the interior, gives a couple of setup steps and zooms up the field for another big gain.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Then, one of the Cochise County Sheriff’s deputies spots a suspect’s gray sedan parked outside a nearby ATM.
—Avery Schmitz, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
There are countless idyllic South Florida spots to watch the sun rise out of the Atlantic Ocean.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025
As the fight is being broken up, Ellen spots her brother with his gun aimed, apparently at Arthur.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Homeowner spots first blue jay and green jay hybrid in Texas.
—Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Yelp only allowed up to five spots per metro area to ensure geographic diversity, so four Phoenix spots receiving the honor is a noteworthy number.
—Endia Fontanez, AZCentral.com, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spots
Noun
-
The vacuum is dedicated to getting even the tiniest specks of dirt, circling back two or three times until the area is spotless.—
Terri Williams,
Architectural Digest,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The tiny black specks of vanilla pack a surprisingly aromatic punch.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
To get the Benny Blanco drink, customers could add cherry flavor and pickles.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Then she’s trapped by aisles on all sides, boxed in by shelf after shelf of pickles.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
For very stubborn food stains, Booth has had success with Scrub Daddy PowerPaste.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Garments with significant wear, damage and heavy stains, and all intimates are directed to end-of-use streams, including recycling, downcycling and responsible disposal.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That’s all great, but the Guardians aren’t ones to make free-agent splashes, and that’s especially the case with a potential work stoppage clouding everything after the 2026 season.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
-
But just like those old Higdon’s the new model splashes and bobs aggressively.—
Alex Robinson,
Outdoor Life,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Photos circulating on state media showed that much of the two locations remained under floodwater, with some houses submerged up to their roofs.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Since then, there have been a few locations for the haunted house, with the scare-centric tradition becoming a tradition for many locals in San Bernardino.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
The $3,211 per month maintenance fees cover a part-time doorman and a fitness studio, while the location provides easy access to Madison Square Park plus all the shopping and dining that dots the area.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Objects Are Mirrors Don’t describe a room — describe what that character notices in that room.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
3 Nov. 2025
-
During the clip, the owner notices a large chunk has been ripped (or bitten) out of the flooring, and there’s only one suspect hovering around nearby.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In a viral TikTok video shared on Saturday under the username @personalityhire__, the poster’s cat, Paya, can be seen sitting quietly in the bathtub, opening his mouth to drink as his owner sprays him with the shower head right in the face.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Fittingly, these finals get a full seven-game layout, and the team to earn four wins lifts the trophy (then sprays the trophy with sparkling wine).—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spots. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share