mottle 1 of 2

as in blotch
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part canvases covered with streaks and mottles

Synonyms & Similar Words

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mottle

2 of 2

verb

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 mottle
Noun
As branching coral look-alikes, the cuttlefish splayed out their arms and displayed dark mottles to blend in with staghorn coral. Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2025 Remember to continue your daily sunscreen use to stave off more mottle. Katie Becker, Harper's BAZAAR, 5 Oct. 2015
Verb
The gas stations had the dingy look of gas stations everywhere, mottled with the stains of oil and exhaust. Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024 The affected areas may appear white, pale, yellow, or mottled blue, depending on your skin tone. Lindsay Curtis, Health, 1 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for mottle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mottle
Noun
  • 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
  • Dark brown blotches with black edges dot its back, sometimes joining together to form bands.
    Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Push the button and voila – exactly the right flavorings are sprinkled down into your recipe.
    Michael Franco, New Atlas, 7 Apr. 2025
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Stray disposable plates and cups dot the apartment.
    David Bezmozgis, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Mounds of garbage bags, some several feet high, dot the red-brick streets like pins on a corkboard.
    Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Weed treatment can leave behind bare patches of soil.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
  • The Note 20 was last updated with a security patch in January.
    Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Its players are turncoats whose legacies are forever stained.
    Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2025
  • 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
  • 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
  • You cant be expected to clean every speck of dust in every nook and cranny.
    John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Mottle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottle. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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