1
as in rainfalls
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 handfuls
a small number
received only a sprinkle of suggestions for the name of the school mascot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in dots
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 sprinkles
Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Arias and her mother concocted the treat to resemble a large pink cupcake with sprinkles.
—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Feb. 2026
Each is topped with sweet white icing and dark green shamrock sprinkles.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 27 Feb. 2026
There are light sprinkles of magical realism in this book.
—CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Pinprick funk guitar trades phrases with synth lines that come down like sprinkles in a digital snow globe.
—Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 15 Feb. 2026
Other donuts will have pink, red and white sprinkles for the holiday.
—Mike Snider, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 Feb. 2026
Other doughnuts will have pink, red and white sprinkles for the holiday.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 13 Feb. 2026
Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
Much like Knives Out, the movie takes a much more lighthearted approach and sprinkles humor throughout.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
The shareable treat features Galactic Brownie ice cream, fudge drizzle, M&Ms candies, and Halloween sprinkles atop a double fudge brownie crust.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
The show also sprinkles in factoids about Daniel’s military past, his upbringing in Italy and his fractured family dynamic.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
John Wood mans the kit; Jeff Adamczyk sprinkles stars above on keys.
—Jonathan Terrell, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
These thick, bakery-style cookies are topped with a healthy swirl of icings, sprinkles, jam, or even cookie crumbs.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Arias and her mother concocted the treat to resemble a large pink cupcake with sprinkles.
—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Feb. 2026
Each is topped with sweet white icing and dark green shamrock sprinkles.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 27 Feb. 2026
There are light sprinkles of magical realism in this book.
—CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Pinprick funk guitar trades phrases with synth lines that come down like sprinkles in a digital snow globe.
—Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 15 Feb. 2026
Other donuts will have pink, red and white sprinkles for the holiday.
—Mike Snider, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 Feb. 2026
Other doughnuts will have pink, red and white sprinkles for the holiday.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
Groff sprinkles this punchy, athletic syntax over a slew of intricate settings.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
Much like Knives Out, the movie takes a much more lighthearted approach and sprinkles humor throughout.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
The shareable treat features Galactic Brownie ice cream, fudge drizzle, M&Ms candies, and Halloween sprinkles atop a double fudge brownie crust.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
The show also sprinkles in factoids about Daniel’s military past, his upbringing in Italy and his fractured family dynamic.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
John Wood mans the kit; Jeff Adamczyk sprinkles stars above on keys.
—Jonathan Terrell, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprinkles
Noun
-
During years of drought, when the water level dropped, trees grew in the lake bed, but when water returned following heavy rainfalls, the trees lost all their leaves and were just bare trunks and branches.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Dec. 2025
-
The researchers analyzed tree-ring data from across Europe to see how temperatures fluctuated across the century leading up to the Black Death to better understand the massive rainfalls Bauch had seen referenced in records.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
4 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Sprinkle a few handfuls of wood ashes around your hydrangea in early spring and water it in.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Drop handfuls evenly over the top of the compost pile, moisten with water, and mix it in with a rake or shovel.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Orange County sprays herbicides to eradicate vegetation in flood control channels.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The man asks for his Shalimar perfume, sprays himself and lies down on the floor.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 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
Noun
-
For families While the element of escapism is often best suited to solo travelers and couples, rooms are designed to host families with couches, trundles, and roll-away beds.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Others learned of the relocation through social media or from other patients, said attorney Benjamin Ikuta, who is representing the couples.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Instead, each child interacts only with a sophisticated artificial intelligence, which peppers them with questions about everything from mathematics to philosophy.—
Niral Shah,
The Conversation,
15 Dec. 2025
-
Instead, the original body features a patina that peppers its exterior and is a point of celebration, preserved and maintained for true uniqueness.—
Peter Nelson,
Robb Report,
3 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
With toasted pastry flecks in a buttercream, chocolate ganache, and real pastry cream, this recipe does the pastry justice.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The gentle, softening formula (one of its five ingredients is glycerin) cuts through multiple coats of polish and wipes away even the clingiest glitter flecks, all without stripping your nails of every last ounce of moisture.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Here are details on the most mouth-watering drizzles of Asian sesame dressing, and the sad pours that are sure to wreck even the most expertly made food.—
Jolene Thym,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Plus, the cookies are not decorated with Crumbl’s common drizzles, pipings or crumbles.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sprinkles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprinkles. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
