1
as in spraying
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on
a hillside dotted with wildflowers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in sprinkling
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
the practice of some chefs of positioning a small portion of food in the center and dotting the rest of the plate with sauce
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dotting
Jim Clash Today the beach is tranquil, with hotels and restaurants dotting the shoreline.
—
Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The image is etched in black and white, except for the red blood dotting the protestor’s sign.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2025
Rescuers were battling to reach remote mountainous areas cut off from mobile networks along the Pakistani border, where mudbrick homes dotting the slopes collapsed in the quake.
—Mohammad Yunus Yawar, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2025
And three, plump, dark, juicy blackberries dotting vines all across the South just waiting to be turned into a fresh-out-of-the-oven cobbler.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2025
Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The image is etched in black and white, except for the red blood dotting the protestor’s sign.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2025
Rescuers were battling to reach remote mountainous areas cut off from mobile networks along the Pakistani border, where mudbrick homes dotting the slopes collapsed in the quake.
—Mohammad Yunus Yawar, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2025
And three, plump, dark, juicy blackberries dotting vines all across the South just waiting to be turned into a fresh-out-of-the-oven cobbler.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dotting
Verb
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Also, avoid spraying when pollinators are present.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
10 Sep. 2025
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The science is clear on the harmful health impacts of farmers directly spraying pesticides, but less clear when studied in low levels carried through to food, said Mozaffarian.—
Will McDuffie,
ABC News,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Common methods to combat the odor included washing the shoes and drying them in the sun; using spray deodorant; or sprinkling the shoes with an antibacterial powder.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 Sep. 2025
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Under the post that included romantic and silly shots of Neeson sprinkling some popcorn over her head, Joely left a string of red heart emojis in the comments section.—
Jen Juneau,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the chastening 5-1 loss against Chelsea, Enzo Maresca’s side realised peppering Hermansen with crosses was a worthwhile exercise.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
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The host Colombia was peppering the Bolivia goalkeeper Carlos Lampe with shots on goal from early on.—
Joseph O'Sullivan,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Wood filler is the best choice for repairing large, deep gouges, but usually requires staining.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
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Dental Hygiene Products Ingredients in some oral hygiene products can contribute to tooth staining.—
Ann Pietrangelo,
Verywell Health,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dotting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dotting. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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