1
as in dotted
marked with spots
the spotted tablecloth clashed with the stripes on the wallpaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in colored
having blotches of two or more colors
not surprisingly, the white cow and black bull had a spotted calf
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in sprinkled
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 noticed
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 sprayed
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 spotted
Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
The shoe got endorsements from celebrities early on after their rerelease, with stars like Dua Lipa, Emily Ratajkowski and more spotted wearing it.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 8 Aug. 2025
Naema Ahmed, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2026
Shailene Woodley was spotted in Milan with British actor Milo Callaghan.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spotted
Adjective
The famed pastry chef shared a photo of 4-year-old Josephine striking a fierce pose in an animal-print dress, along with spotted ears, paws and shoes to match, in an Instagram post on Saturday, Oct. 18.
—Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
The shoe got endorsements from celebrities early on after their rerelease, with stars like Dua Lipa, Emily Ratajkowski and more spotted wearing it.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
And flurries have been spotted as far south as as Cape Coral, Florida, south of Tampa.
—Naema Ahmed, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2026
Shailene Woodley was spotted in Milan with British actor Milo Callaghan.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spotted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spotted
Adjective
-
The decibel drama proved, intentionally or not, to be a deflection from the far more pressing issues plaguing the UConn men’s basketball team at the moment, despite a 24-3 record for which most any Huskies fan would have signed on the dotted line when the season began.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
19 Feb. 2026
-
As each participant started getting comfortable with the machine sewing a maze on paper, going around dotted lines, both mother and daughter got into the flow.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Elementary, middle, high and specialty schools are coded with differently colored dots.—
Data Reporter,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Some eagle-eyed observers even shared close-up screen grabs of this seer, showing her to have different colored eyes.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
First up, a comfort-food salad sprinkled with furikake, the Japanese sesame-seaweed mixture traditionally used as a rice seasoning.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
-
There are thousands of ski resorts sprinkled across more than 60 nations around the globe.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
California accountant Richard Pon, who noticed his state's plan to tax the accounts in an obscure government document, expects that some states may treat contributions to the accounts differently depending on the source.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Feb. 2026
-
When a flight attendant noticed, Dali faked vomiting to excuse her lengthy time in the bathroom, according to prosecutors.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
By that time in early February, the orchard of Ross cling peaches, considered a late variety for the time of its summer harvest, workers would have pruned each tree and sprayed the orchard in anticipation of the impending bloom.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Meanwhile, the state has sprayed more than 135,000 pounds of it in Florida’s waterways over the last decade as part of its aquatic weed-removal program.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The whole rug needs to get wet or colors in the fiber could migrate and result in a blotched look.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2025
-
Its leaves are deciduous and sometimes white-blotched.—
Howard Garrett,
Dallas News,
16 Aug. 2021
Verb
-
Even the best bath towels eventually become too worn out and stained to be regularly used.—
Rabekah Henderson,
The Spruce,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The title comes from an awkward moment when their leader’s jeans were stained with menstrual blood.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Ruggeri says that, in comparison to saw palmetto, which gets far more attention.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
19 Feb. 2026
-
During the trial, jurors learned about grim Google searches Brian had made after his wife died, including how to saw a body and how to clean blood off of wood floors.—
Nicole Acosta,
PEOPLE,
18 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spotted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spotted. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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