mottle 1 of 2

as in blotch
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part canvases covered with streaks and mottles

Synonyms & Similar Words

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mottle

2 of 2

verb

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mottle
Noun
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 Remember to continue your daily sunscreen use to stave off more mottle. Katie Becker, Harper's BAZAAR, 5 Oct. 2015
Verb
Red spots mottled his face; Edwards was sick with measles, too. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 4 June 2025 They were mottled brown with tiny eyes and described as a new species in 1913, dubbed, rather questionably, Moringua hodgarti. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for mottle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mottle
Noun
  • Gopher snakes tend to be tan-colored with large square brown blotches or saddles along their backs and smaller gray spots on their sides.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2025
  • The baby was purple-gray-colored, in blotches; wet, smeared in blood and what looked like whitish wax.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 July 2025
Verb
  • The menu shifts between Spanish, Greek and Italian influences, with dishes such as classic caviar and jamón Ibérico croquetas sprinkled with gold leaf, and sea bass, hamachi and salmon crudi prepared lightly and vibrantly.
    Melinda Sheckells, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • To top it off, slather with cream cheese frosting and sprinkle with pecans.
    Patricia S York, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This uncanny coincidence — that the Earth’s radiation lines up with the energies of carbon dioxide’s mixed vibrational/rotational quantum state — is how this tiny trace of molecules, mere flecks in the air, completely dominates our climate.
    Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Its black and white or brown flecks convey a fresh, modern feel that's ideal for breaking away from the tyranny of basics.
    María Munsuri, Glamour, 24 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Lenox, Massachusetts A mix of idyllic villages and pristine nature with a thriving art scene thrown in for good measure, The Berkshires region is dotted with lakes, mountains, and crimson and butterscotch leaves that tinge the autumn terrain.
    Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
  • Together the three bodies of water create the Jupiter Inlet, a hot spot for boating activity and the backdrop for a lively Riverwalk that’s dotted with retail shops, waterfront restaurants, and places to hop aboard for a sunset cruise.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • There are various reasons brown spots or a brown patch of grass appear in an otherwise green lawn.
    Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Some other signs of waning internal energy (percentage of stocks above the 200-day average, etc) which has some on watch for a soft patch in the indexes.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • While there’s no secret deodorant conspiracy at play, there is a reason for the difference—certain types of deodorant are more prone to staining than others.
    Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2025
  • Police said Smirnova’s hospital gown and legs were also stained with blood.
    Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Instead of a leafy house salad, diners get chunky shareable beets with horseradish, speck and a jammy egg.
    Maggie Hennessy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Sep. 2025
  • But this particular speck hovers in the sky off the east coast of Florida, serving as a seed for water vapor to condense around and form a cloud.
    Zack Savitsky, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • As Emmy celebrations peppered the town on Saturday night, a starkly differently occasion left attendees shaken, tearful and reminded of the immersive power of cinema.
    Stacey Wilson Hunt, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Whisk together mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
    Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mottle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottle. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

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