1
as in colored
having blotches of two or more colors
a mottled complexion
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dotted
marked with spots
mottled leather upholstery that isn't supposed to look perfect
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sprinkled
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
old papers that were mottled by mold
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mottled
Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 7 July 2025
Quiet time to wonder, daydream and relish the mottled bark of sycamore trees has fallen by the wayside.
—Patricia Steckler, Baltimore Sun, 18 June 2025
What looks like something tangled, speckled or mottled, clearly out of place amid a cluster of broken rushes, cattails, algae, has captured her excited attention.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 17 June 2025
Designated the state bird of Alaska in 1955, this rotund creature takes on a drastically different appearance depending on the season, with snow-white plumage in the winter and mottled brown feathers during the warmer seasons.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mottled
Adjective
The outcome is a pleasingly mottled appearance that earns comparisons to denim, which is similarly woven with a colored warp and a white weft but is milled as a more dense and substantial twill.
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 7 July 2025
Quiet time to wonder, daydream and relish the mottled bark of sycamore trees has fallen by the wayside.
—Patricia Steckler, Baltimore Sun, 18 June 2025
What looks like something tangled, speckled or mottled, clearly out of place amid a cluster of broken rushes, cattails, algae, has captured her excited attention.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 17 June 2025
Designated the state bird of Alaska in 1955, this rotund creature takes on a drastically different appearance depending on the season, with snow-white plumage in the winter and mottled brown feathers during the warmer seasons.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mottled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mottled
Adjective
-
Women in brightly colored dresses danced in shoes that loudly clicked across the floor.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Across the valley sat a two-story barn where caramel-colored and chestnut-spotted horses plus a storybook white one were lined up along the wooden fence.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Simple arithmetic such as 355/113 could be calculated in place by selecting the text and pressing USE FRONT-CALC (Control-G), which yields the answer with a dotted underline to indicate the result of a computation.—
Cameron Kaiser,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Prospects seem good that someone will sign on the dotted line during or soon after the Toronto event.—
Julie Hinds,
Freep.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
To see those brown eyes, long brown hair, and those freckles sprinkled across her nose.—
Manuel Muñoz,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The clinical nature of the autopsy report is stark against the remnants of Pauline’s humanity, sprinkled throughout the 11 pages.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
The Tennessean,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This is beautifully marbled, deeply beefy, strikingly umami meat from older cattle.—
Andy Wang,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Soothing earth tones and warm wood accents mix with fresh greenery and marbled floors and large, comfy couches and chairs are an inviting way to welcome guests in.—
Elliott Harrell,
Southern Living,
31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
This golden bouquet, which comes in a speckled brown ceramic pot, adds moody vibes and a pop of fall-friendly color, to the countertops, table, or coffee table.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Sep. 2025
-
On the platform, around the clock, the racket of metal bore pipes and machinery, the drilling grime and the speckled mud mingled with the quieter, cleaner work of scientists in trailers converted to pristine labs and processing posts.—
Rodrique Ngowi,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Inside the retro-futuristic Discoveryland area of Disneyland Paris, a full-size Star Wars X-Wing fighter sits on a silver and blue platform which looks like it has been weathered and stained from battles.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Doing some research on other things my car needs (truly the theme for this week) and decide a seat cover would be good, since it’s been stained a bit with annoying food spills.—
R29 Team,
Refinery29,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
An invasive planthopper native to Asia, the spotted lanternfly is thought to have entered the U.S. via egg masses on a stone shipment in 2012, according to Cornell Integrated Pest Management.—
Katie Nixon,
The Tennessean,
25 Aug. 2025
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The shoe got endorsements from celebrities early on after their rerelease, with stars like Dua Lipa, Emily Ratajkowski and more spotted wearing it.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Éclairs with glossy chocolate tops, macarons in muted pastels that feel like edible architecture, madeleines flecked with salt or spice.—
Daniel Scheffler,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
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Or try the takikomi gohan — a hot stone pot of crispy rice flecked with roasted mushrooms, edamame and sweet pea shoots and sauced with black garlic oil and a glossy egg yolk.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mottled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottled. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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