as in fleck
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part
the clouds threw dapples of shadow over the eerily quiet street
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to sprinkle
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
sunlight dappled the canopy of vines over our heads
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dapple
Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 17 Nov. 2022
Piglet is a Chihuahua-dachshund mix, with a genetic condition called double dapple that causes eyesight and hearing difficulties.
—Susan Dunne, courant.com, 29 Jan. 2022
Brad Japhe, Travel + Leisure, 22 Jan. 2025
The subtlest animation looks the best, especially when sunlight dapples upon fur or felines flex their claws to assert power.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dapple
Noun
Gleaming spots caused by methane ice clouds in the planet's atmosphere dapple its lower half.
—Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 17 Nov. 2022
Piglet is a Chihuahua-dachshund mix, with a genetic condition called double dapple that causes eyesight and hearing difficulties.
—Susan Dunne, courant.com, 29 Jan. 2022
Verb
It’s lined with shops and cafes, but Pimlico Road is also dappled with the most delightful design, commercial galleries, and furniture stores in the city, all of which are worth exploring for an afternoon.
—Brad Japhe, Travel + Leisure, 22 Jan. 2025
The subtlest animation looks the best, especially when sunlight dapples upon fur or felines flex their claws to assert power.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dapple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dapple
Noun
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Made from 100 percent Donegal merino wool, the Finisterre Farne Women’s Crew Neck Knit Sweater comes in a choice of shades, all with subtle flecks of contrasting color.—
Jessica Macdonald,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Mar. 2025
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Normally, landing a star of Dončić’s caliber at such a young age would take every fleck of gold in the safe.—
C. Clark, M. Vorkunov and F. Katz,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Push the button and voila – exactly the right flavorings are sprinkled down into your recipe.—
Michael Franco,
New Atlas,
7 Apr. 2025
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Not exactly despair, but resignation set in, as though sheltering in the basement and sprinkling the children with holy water were to be the accommodating ministrations.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Connect the dots for your team—Help each person see how their role contributes to the overarching mission.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
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My son held up his phone to reveal a map of Israel, lit up almost entirely in red location dots, showing where missiles were potentially headed.—
Dina Kraft,
Christian Science Monitor,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Its players are turncoats whose legacies are forever stained.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2025
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Be careful and don’t use it every wash because these products can stain your hair with a pink or lavender tint.—
Jennifer Hussein,
Allure,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Now the Mediterranean-style digs high above Malibu Canyon have popped up for sale, asking a speck under $13 million.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
10 Apr. 2025
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You cant be expected to clean every speck of dust in every nook and cranny.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This ham is spiraled and salty, with lots of yummy marbling around the sides.—
Carrie Honaker,
Southern Living,
11 Dec. 2024
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There’s a nice mix of experience and youth marbled through the lineup, with Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers leading the offence.—
Allan Mitchell,
The Athletic,
8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The fish have white faces with a black blotch in front of the eyes, according to the study.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2025
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Dark brown blotches with black edges dot its back, sometimes joining together to form bands.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The whole salad is scattered with mint and pepper flakes that provide a visual and flavor boost that not only appeals to the eye but also really makes the mango dressing pop more so.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
1 Apr. 2025
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Guadarrama eyed her up and down, took some measurements, made a few quick alterations, and then began to pepper her with questions about her bra.—
Adam Iscoe,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dapple. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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