as in to dot
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
the sunlight falling through the lace curtain stippled her face
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 stipple
Swipe directly onto the hollows of your cheeks and temples, then blend up and out with a stippling brush to keep the lift high and defined.
—
Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 12 July 2025
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One A game of vivid Canadian wilderness stippled with salmon sunsets and flashes of evergreens, The Long Dark offers an achingly beautiful survival experience, but a brutal one nonetheless.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 9 July 2025
Healthy gums often have stippling, small, shallow grooves like an orange peel.3
Unhealthy gums are looser and darker than healthy gums.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 29 May 2025
His go-to technique starts with tailoring prep to skin type, stippling in foundation, and using strategic spot-concealing.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stipple
Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 12 July 2025
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One A game of vivid Canadian wilderness stippled with salmon sunsets and flashes of evergreens, The Long Dark offers an achingly beautiful survival experience, but a brutal one nonetheless.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 9 July 2025
Healthy gums often have stippling, small, shallow grooves like an orange peel.3
Unhealthy gums are looser and darker than healthy gums.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 29 May 2025
His go-to technique starts with tailoring prep to skin type, stippling in foundation, and using strategic spot-concealing.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stipple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stipple
Verb
-
Cooper Flagg jerseys dotted the arena.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Kenneth Cole Classic Wool Walker Coat The three-button closure dotting the collar of this Kenneth Cole coat is unique yet totally timeless.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Spray any tough-to-clean areas with a bit of vinegar and sprinkle with baking soda.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Flaky phyllo dough is filled with zesty harissa sauce and halloumi cheese and sprinkled with breadcrumbs and paprika for a savory bite-sized snack.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This mixture attacks stains a bit stronger than the water solution.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026
-
While new doors can cost anywhere from several hundred to thousands of dollars, staining, painting, and weather stripping can be done for under $150, according to O'Reilly.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
McQueen’s work asks us to confront the ways that awe at beauty can be marbled with disgust.—
Leslie Jamison,
New Yorker,
22 Dec. 2025
-
The marbling method, a simple smoosh, pinch, and roll, creates bakery-worthy swirls in every cookie.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As is tradition on the third day of the Sydney Test, also known as the Pink Test, people wore pink shirts, dresses, hats, suits or even dyed their hair to show support for the McGrath Foundation.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Another student describes making algae yarn over winter break, boiling and dyeing it in her kitchen.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
30 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stipple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stipple. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
