1
as in fleck
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part
a lizard with specks of white against a green body
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2
as in glimmer
a very small amount
not a speck of explanation to accompany the book's pictures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in particle
a very small piece
a speck of dust was preventing the laser from reading the disc
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to sprinkle
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
dirt that had specked the windows of the factory for ages
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of speck
Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025
Within the span of a few days, an innocuous speck can turn a loaf of bread from prime sandwich material into a hideous mass of blue-green fuzz—an appetite-killing sight if ever there was one.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 1 May 2025
Brian Lowry, CNN, 19 Apr. 2018
To get into the spirit, order a ginger beer and rock shrimp fritters, fried balls of doughy goodness specked with bell pepper and spices that come steaming hot with a side of spicy mayo.
—Mark Kurlyandchik, Detroit Free Press, 12 Feb. 2018
See All Example Sentences for speck
Noun
Unlike many of its competitors, Sir Kensington’s vegan mayo also includes flavorings like rosemary extract, mustard extract, lemon oil, citric acid, and black pepper—which means the final product has distinct black specks, while most others are an unadulterated eggshell in color.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025
Within the span of a few days, an innocuous speck can turn a loaf of bread from prime sandwich material into a hideous mass of blue-green fuzz—an appetite-killing sight if ever there was one.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 1 May 2025
Verb
For all its strengths, though, the series proves a bit of a slog, at times, as the wheels turn along the dusty, blood-specked road to wherever this maze leads.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 19 Apr. 2018
To get into the spirit, order a ginger beer and rock shrimp fritters, fried balls of doughy goodness specked with bell pepper and spices that come steaming hot with a side of spicy mayo.
—Mark Kurlyandchik, Detroit Free Press, 12 Feb. 2018
See All Example Sentences for speck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speck
Noun
-
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
-
Then, a volunteer lit the pyre, and flecks of ashes swirled in the air.—
Sui-Lee Wee,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
But planted within that picture was a glimmer of hope — or maybe delusion — for Sabres fans.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
-
This link between exercise and the gut was barely a glimmer in scientists’ eyes some 15 years ago, when exercise immunologist Marc Cook was a graduate student at the Urbana-Champaign campus.—
Lydia Denworth,
Scientific American,
20 May 2025
Noun
-
This approach has proved enormously successful, explaining everything from the behavior of subatomic particles to the evolution of the entire universe.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
23 May 2025
-
Since higher concentrations of aerosol particles creates clouds that are more reflective of the sun’s rays, the strength of an area’s aerosol particle sources matters.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
22 May 2025
Verb
-
There are access points sprinkled across the waterfront.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
23 May 2025
-
There’s a few PPA Challengers sprinkled in, but the main pros are on MLP duty for a while.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
And yet, the poem’s haunting finale carried a shred of hope.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
-
Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for about 3 1/2 hours until meat shreds easily.—
Catherine Jessee,
Southern Living,
6 May 2025
Noun
-
Don't load it up with more than 8 pounds of gear though, and avoid anything with pointy bits, as there's no padding here.—
Scott Gilbertson,
Wired News,
25 May 2025
-
People were impressed … and a little bit terrified.—
TJ Macias,
Kansas City Star,
24 May 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Speck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speck. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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