variants
also dapple
1
as in dotted
marked with spots
a dappled fawn
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in colored
having blotches of two or more colors
a forest that was vibrant with the dappled foliage of autumn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sprinkled
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 dappled
Mark David, Robb Report, 29 Nov. 2025
Our next shot is a wide-field view of the world-famous Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, lit in gold with the light of the full moon shining from behind a delicate formation of dappled clouds, as captured on the night of Nov. 5 by photographer Thibaud Moritz.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2025
His skeleton is well preserved, his bones dappled with gooey-looking sediment.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dappled
Adjective
Today, the 4,000-square-foot home still known as the Lechner House sprawls out over two floors with large windows that fill the house with dappled light filtered through the surrounding trees.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 29 Nov. 2025
Our next shot is a wide-field view of the world-famous Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, lit in gold with the light of the full moon shining from behind a delicate formation of dappled clouds, as captured on the night of Nov. 5 by photographer Thibaud Moritz.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
There are some bright spots dappled throughout the second season in scenes that mostly have nothing to do with religion whatsoever.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2025
His skeleton is well preserved, his bones dappled with gooey-looking sediment.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dappled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dappled
Adjective
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Sure, that might help convince Donovan Mitchell to sign on the dotted line when a contract extension gets placed in front of him.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
6 Feb. 2026
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And eventually, the Greek forward signed on the dotted line to remain in Milwaukee.—
Eric Nehm,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Small balconies glance upon the terracotta-and-lemon-colored canal homes, a picturesque way to start each day with a little caffè.—
Elly Leavitt,
Vogue,
9 Feb. 2026
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The Seahawks are now the third team in a row to win the Super Bowl in colored jerseys.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Serve drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with parsley.—
Faye Levy,
Oc Register,
11 Feb. 2026
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It can be sprinkled directly onto the ice to melt it, similar to the way rock salt works.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The role of colder, drier air Seasonal changes in the atmosphere can also affect how colorful sunrises and sunsets appear.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
11 Feb. 2026
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Guests crunch through colorful seasonal salads, sip from an expansive wine list and dig into chef Alan Sternberg's inventive pasta dishes at snugly cloistered tables in wood and brick alcoves lined with paintings, books and even a handful of typewriters.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Rounds of roasted purple sweet potatoes arrive mounded with a mixture of salsa macha and butter, and liberally flecked with chives.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
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Outside, a man wearing a leather biker vest bearing the insignia of the Latin American Motorcycle Association, his blond beard flecked with ice crystals, directed a line of cars through the snow.—
Adam Serwer,
The Atlantic,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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In short, the spotted lanternfly is a moth-like bug that's not supposed to be in the U.S.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
8 Jan. 2026
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This photo, made with a remote camera and provided by the University of Arizona Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center, shows a spotted jaguar in southern Arizona, Nov. 2025.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Gooday explained that red hone is blue hone that has been stained by iron materials.—
Asuka Koda,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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Classic raised garden beds made of wood and stained to protect them from the elements are a good way to pack a lot of plants into a small space.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Premade strawberry glaze helps quickly achieve a marbled look for an elegant presentation.—
Nellah Bailey McGough,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
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The marbled, frescoed, octagonal room was domed to amplify the sound of a tinkling keys at the center, and hosted regular recitals.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dappled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dappled. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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