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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mottle
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
Margaret Roach, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025
The soil was mottled with sheep droppings and uneven patches of grass.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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
Some are near-alabaster or silvery, others the darkest of greens, and there are variegated choices, striped or mottled in gold or white or silver.
—Margaret Roach, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025
The soil was mottled with sheep droppings and uneven patches of grass.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mottle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mottle
Noun
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Some leaf-mining insects make distinct patterns, like squiggles or serpentine shapes, while others make irregular blotches, like this species.—
Miri Talabac,
Baltimore Sun,
8 May 2025
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Black panthers, as they are colloquially named, are a color variation of a leopard with fully black fur or large blotches of black spots on a dark background color, according to Britannica.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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There are access points sprinkled across the waterfront.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
23 May 2025
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To add a Tajín or salt rim, sprinkle a thin layer of Tajín or fine sea salt into a shallow bowl or plate.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
Denver Post,
20 May 2025
Noun
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Each shot is a singular moment in time, and plates are sometimes imbued with not just the emotional weight of the image but also flecks of dust kicked up by passing dump trucks full of debris.—
Marah Eakin,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2025
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Then, a volunteer lit the pyre, and flecks of ashes swirled in the air.—
Sui-Lee Wee,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
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And today, over a century after logging ceased in 1918, Converse Basin Grove remains a patchwork of young conifer plantations and open meadows dotted with massive stumps.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
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Inside, three bedrooms and four baths are spread across almost 2,300 square feet of multi-level living space boasting a mix of stone and wide-plank French oak floors, arched doorways, and whitewashed wood-beam ceilings dotted with skylights.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
23 May 2025
Noun
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This signals the end of a seriously rough patch for KTM, which was on the brink of collapse for a while.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
23 May 2025
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There's a fascinating set of new patches Chinese officials released for a series of launches with top-secret satellites over the last two months, Ars reports.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Plus, the matte, two-tone color scheme helps resist staining, maintaining the spoons' stylish appeal over time.—
Toby Rose,
Parents,
22 May 2025
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Then, once completed, pasting begins, where mud from the henna plant is placed atop the area to stain.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
22 May 2025
Noun
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The whole process is more NASA than NASCAR in that there’s not a speck of grease or oil on the bright, white vinyl flooring and everybody’s hands are clean.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2025
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Or a percentage of a fraction of a risk — better lock him up, than risk a speck of backlash.—
David Katz,
IndieWire,
15 May 2025
Verb
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Still, the political digs are peppered in the string.—
Joe Dwinell,
Boston Herald,
19 May 2025
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Relying heavily on his four-seam fastball, Ryan peppered the zone and struck out the side in the second and third innings.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mottle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottle. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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