as in sprinkling
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 stippling
Two pumps on the back of my hand did the trick, stippling it across my red-speckled cheeks and around my nose.
—
Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2025
The yellowing, eventually turning to brown, starts with stippling or tiny dots on the foliage where mites have pierced the leaves’ epidermis with their stylets or sucking mouthparts.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
Spider mites cause yellowing or stippling on the leaves.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2025
Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2025
The yellowing, eventually turning to brown, starts with stippling or tiny dots on the foliage where mites have pierced the leaves’ epidermis with their stylets or sucking mouthparts.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
Spider mites cause yellowing or stippling on the leaves.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stippling
Verb
-
The recipe also suggests sprinkling some fresh thyme leaves on top of your Bacon Jam before serving for a hint of herby freshness—and to look pretty—but that’s optional.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Position the seeds about 2 to 3 inches apart, or speed up planting by blending the carrot seeds with fine sand or potting mix and sprinkling the mixture lightly and evenly along a planting row.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Bright hot-air balloons dotting the pale sky over a striated desert.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Also like many others, the surgery Nyong’o had to remove the roughly 30 fibroids dotting her uterus at the time proved only a temporary fix, with upward of 50 redeveloping in the 12 years since.—
Beth Krietsch,
SELF,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Signature Round Deep Oven offers plenty of features that justify the investment, like its easy-to-clean enamel that resists chipping, dulling, and staining, a tight-fitting lid that helps circulate steam, and an ergonomic knob for effortless lifting.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Feb. 2026
-
For a softer take, Kulfi Beauty’s lip staining oil in Caramel adds a warm nude sheen that feels both effortless and seasonally appropriate.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Sometimes dyeing your hair at home is the best option for changing up your hair color.—
Caroline C. Boyle,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
-
When John commands Cal to cut his long hair, Cal rebels by dyeing it platinum and trimming it into a chin-length bob.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Set in East Anglia, Lovejoy is about a charismatic antiques dealer with an almost mystical knack for spotting genuine artefacts and scams.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Schofield gained international recognition for a late ’80s jeans commercial that had her speeding through the desert in a black Ferrari, then screeching to a stop after spotting a strapping young man standing on the side of the road in jeans and a white T-shirt.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stippling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stippling. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
