as in dotted
marked with spots
create a stippled effect by dabbing a contrasting color of paint over an undercoat with a rag or sponge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sprinkled
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
the sunlight falling through the lace curtain stippled her face
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 stippled
Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Look for fine webbing and speckled or stippled leaves, which are signs of their presence, says Harvell.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Over a 10-month period, our editors—all with vastly different preferences for coverage, finish, and format—buffed and blended (and swept and stippled) their way through about 650 submissions.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Look for fine webbing and speckled or stippled leaves, which are signs of their presence, says Harvell.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Verb
Inside the passage, the lips of water beyond my torchlight are coal black, stippled with freckles of sediment.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stippled
Adjective
-
This reversible quilt has a hint of floral romance on one side and a more minimalist dotted print on the other.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Examples include dotted prints, the flat-thong sandal and the color yellow.—
Chloe Veltman,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Chopped pecans are sprinkled over the top, creating that irresistible sticky topping once the buns are baked and flipped.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The minimum guarantees were reduced to 14 out of the show’s 18 episodes per season, meaning some of Grey’s Anatomy’s stars won’t appear in four episodes usually sprinkled throughout the season.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Hamas says at least 27 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces over the last week; Israeli officials said troops fired to prevent incursions across the yellow line, which is now being marked with colored stanchions as a clearer warning.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Demi Moore’s hip length-plus, raven-colored hair is a signature.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Look for products with one or more of those ingredients, and always test first on a small, inconspicuous area to ensure your carpet won’t be damaged or stained.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Napier’s tenure was also stained by one of the biggest snafus of the name, image and likeness era.—
Matt Baker,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Illinois skies are mottled.—
Matthew Shen Goodman,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The first two discs are flecked with revelations.—
Will Hermes,
Rolling Stone,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Behind Timm was her unassuming garden, flecked with tall grasses and native plants of all sizes – a quiet haven alive with color, movement and purpose.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Swathes of social media stars, including sessions with Twitch streamers, sports influencers and heads of digital media studios, speckled the lineup with talks on how to do creator content right.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Created by James Beard Award winner and Bottega’s former pastry chef, Dolester Miles, the cake itself is speckled with ground pecans, which add texture and sweetness, which are brushed with simple syrup.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stippled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stippled. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share