sprinkle 1 of 2

noun

Definition of sprinklenext
1
as in rainfall
a light or fine rain decided it was not worth carrying an umbrella for just a sprinkle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in handful
a small number received only a sprinkle of suggestions for the name of the school mascot

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sprinkle

2 of 2

verb

ˈspriŋ-kəl How to pronounce sprinkle (audio)
1
as in to spray
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on sprinkle the newly seeded lawn with water

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to dot
to mark with small spots especially unevenly sprinkled the cake with bits of coconut

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 sprinkle
Noun
The general nostalgic rock vibes of the album are in stark contrast with the liberal sprinkle of very online pop culture references. — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 Something as simple as a drizzle of good EVOO, a turn of fresh pepper, and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt can help bring out natural flavors of seasonal produce. — Kate Donovan, Martha Stewart, 16 July 2026
Verb
The salt that sprinkled out beneath the thorn tower was packaged in attractive black paper and shipped all around the world. — Literary Hub, 22 July 2026 Either squeeze the lemon juice and sprinkle the salt directly onto the stains and scrub, or mix into a paste first. — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sprinkle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprinkle
  1. rainfall
  2. handful
  3. spray
  4. dot
  5. drizzle
  6. couple
  7. pepper
  8. stain
Noun
  • Bathrooms, complete with rainfall showers, are lined with Bellino Turkish cotton bath towels and Salt and Stone products; beds are made up in Cuddledown linens; and Whirlpool washers and dryers are in every unit.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 July 2026
  • Thursday afternoon’s thunderstorms could pack rainfall rates up to 2 inches per hour — an intensity that can quickly overwhelm drainage systems and flood urban areas.
    — Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
Definition of rainfall
Noun
  • Rooftops for views of the city Charlotte has a handful of rooftops with excellent views of the skyline, perfect for Instagram.
    — Evan Moore July 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026
  • In April, House Democrats, with the support of a handful of Republicans, passed legislation extending temporary protections for Haitian immigrants by three years.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
Definition of handful
Verb
  • No blood was visible, but one area glowed after being sprayed with Bluestar.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2026
  • One award-winning work used chalk powder mixed in water sprayed a la Jackson Pollock.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026
Definition of spray
Verb
  • Lake Norman also is dotted with artificial reefs, said Billy Wilson, who serves as a board member of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and the president of its Lake Norman chapter.
    — Laura Horne, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026
  • Construction cranes are bringing office towers to an area once dotted with auto body shops, small storefronts, and single family homes.
    — Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026
Definition of dot
Noun
  • More spicy chicken at Chick-fil-A The Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich, available with an original or spicy filet, features pimento cheese, mild pickled jalapeños and a drizzle of honey on a toasted bun.
    — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 24 July 2026
  • Each bar has a lemon filling and is topped off with a white chocolate drizzle.
    — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 July 2026
Definition of drizzle
Noun
  • One couple has returned year after year, exploring into areas that tourists rarely see.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 July 2026
  • Taiwan has also seen divorces increase among long-married couples, according to government data.
    — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 26 July 2026
Definition of couple
Verb
  • Lacy, who is famously fluid in his sexuality and laughs off any attempt to define it, peppers his songs with dreams of men and women, of wanting each yet leaving everyone.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026
  • The world’s already richest clubs pepper the top of the list — Barcelona, second four years ago, are also second in our estimate — which stands to reason given it is their players who are most likely to feature on the world stage.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of pepper
Verb
  • But the tournament will also be remembered for a classless and churlish Argentina, which forever stained itself with a thuggish performance in the game and an ungracious one afterward.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
  • Now—before there is another name, another van, another street stained with blood that didn't have to be spilled.
    — Kica Matos, Time, 17 July 2026
Definition of stain

Browse Nearby Words

springy
sprinkle
sprinkled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sprinkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprinkle. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on sprinkle

Nglish: Translation of sprinkle for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of kludge

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All