as in blotch
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part
canvases covered with streaks and mottles
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mottle
New Atlas, 23 Jan. 2026
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
New York Times, 25 July 2025
The color is an almost transparent antique and shiny garnet; the nose delivers delicate floral scents of violet and rose petal that take on spicy and balsamic mottling with age.
—Elisabetta Tosi, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for mottle
Noun
Turn the mottle of ideas in your head into coherent communicable paragraphs.
—New Atlas, 23 Jan. 2026
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
Verb
The parrot’s feathers are a bright gilded green mottled with black, and its life span is comparable to that of a human.
—New York Times, 25 July 2025
The color is an almost transparent antique and shiny garnet; the nose delivers delicate floral scents of violet and rose petal that take on spicy and balsamic mottling with age.
—Elisabetta Tosi, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for mottle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mottle
Noun
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Her zapping turns her entire head of hair — not just a streak — shocking white à la Jean Harlow, and leaves an oddly-appealing black blotch on her cheek.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
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Its purple black center was surrounded by blotches of varying shades and textures, raised or sunken at places.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Neutralize Trash Can Odors Cut odors from the kitchen trash by periodically sprinkling baking soda in as waste accumulates.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2026
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Place small bowls in hidden corners, sprinkle it onto bath mats, or add it to trash bins.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Berber carpet Berber is a type of loop pile carpet with flecks of color.—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
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Using x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, scholars determined that the ancient off-white fluid was composed of calcite, huntite, and miniscule flecks of yellow orpiment, a highly toxic sulfide of arsenic that Egyptians also used in medicine to treat syphilis and malaria.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Paramount building is dotted with cool, of-the-moment shops, while the Royal Poinciana Plaza continues to anchor the island’s modern luxury scene after its 2017 refresh, drawing new energy each season.—
Skye Sherman,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Mar. 2026
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Soon after its publication, the novel became available in a cheap paperback and was on sale in the newspaper kiosks that dotted downtown Barcelona.—
Colm Tóibín,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
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How dopamine patches are marketed Dopamine plays a key role in encouraging us to stay motivated, and research suggests ADHD may be linked to issues with the way dopamine is transmitted within the brain.—
Helena Kudiabor,
SELF,
13 Mar. 2026
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Finneas in seafoam-green under-eye patches, Ariana Madix in purple on the Taco Bell purple carpet, and Benson Boone doing a backflip to announce a dessert Crunchwrap.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
No more worrying about whether my teeth are wine-stained at dinner and no reason to feel guilty about that second (or third) espresso hit.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Then the wood must dry, then be sanded, stained and carved.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Desmond Fairchild got a speck of dust in his eye and Dotty, tut-tutting with concern, lent him a tissue to blow his nose.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Mar. 2026
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On Saturday, a gruesome smear of dark red blood could still be found on the sidewalk, with specks of blood being found near a Citi Bike charging station.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Turtlenecks and flannels abound, teens vocally question authority at every turn, and a colorful cast of intellectuals pepper the scene.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2026
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Who remembers the aggressive line of questions Flores peppered Tagovailoa with at the NFL Combine back in 2020, before Miami even drafted him.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mottle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottle. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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