mottled

adjective

mot·​tled ˈmä-tᵊld How to pronounce mottled (audio)
: marked with spots of different colors : having blotches of two or more colors
mottled tree bark
a mottled complexion
the bird's mottled plumage
A combination of red and blue pigments in the shell of a live lobster creates a mottled camouflage of indeterminate hue that blends in with the ocean floor.Kenneth Chang

Examples of mottled in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Others say excessive fluoride intake could cause dental fluorosis, a cosmetic disorder where the teeth become mottled. Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2025 Finally, the mottled clumps of gray sky opened and flecks of snow began pelting the faces of the scouts assembled at Canvas Stadium. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2025 In Margate, Turner experimented with materials like cloth, knives, and even bread to create the mottled topography of his paintings. Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 28 Mar. 2025 More than a century later, fine particles of pollution still clung to its feathers, dulling what once was a scarlet red breast to a mottled gray. Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mottled

Word History

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mottled was in 1676

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Cite this Entry

“Mottled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mottled. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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