as in blotches
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part
the bleach left a small white splotch on my shirt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in sprinkles
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
ink from a leaking pen had badly splotched his shirt pocket
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 splotches
Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
Though this sounds bad, often the only symptom is visible red splotches.
—Brad Stulberg, Outside, 26 Mar. 2026
The other is an overlay of orange and yellow splotches on the land.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Types Of Mangaves ‘Bad Hair Day’ has narrow lime-green leaves with red splotches and a fun, cascading habit.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026
Various images circulating on social media show the Rigid Levi’s x Air Jordan 3 SP with splotches of what appears to be mold across its blue denim upper.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 22 Feb. 2026
Together, the splotches represent a kind of neural signature for craving.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Deer print nails give classic polka dots a more rustic, fanciful feel as the precise dots are replaced with freehand splotches.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 28 Jan. 2026
The sun’s activity rises and falls over an 11-year cycle that is measured by the number of sunspots, dark splotches that dot our star’s surface and that are associated with magnetic storms.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 19 Nov. 2025
Noun
Benedikt Althaus, who goes by Xariif, wore a tiger fursuit draped in red, white and blue stripes and splotches, reminiscent of the American flag.
—Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
Though this sounds bad, often the only symptom is visible red splotches.
—Brad Stulberg, Outside, 26 Mar. 2026
The other is an overlay of orange and yellow splotches on the land.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Types Of Mangaves ‘Bad Hair Day’ has narrow lime-green leaves with red splotches and a fun, cascading habit.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026
Various images circulating on social media show the Rigid Levi’s x Air Jordan 3 SP with splotches of what appears to be mold across its blue denim upper.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 22 Feb. 2026
Together, the splotches represent a kind of neural signature for craving.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Deer print nails give classic polka dots a more rustic, fanciful feel as the precise dots are replaced with freehand splotches.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 28 Jan. 2026
The sun’s activity rises and falls over an 11-year cycle that is measured by the number of sunspots, dark splotches that dot our star’s surface and that are associated with magnetic storms.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 19 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for splotches
Noun
-
Early salt damage often appears as pale, chalky blotches or uneven fading in the paint finish.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
-
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
-
But for every shirt bearing a slogan, there were ten cheeks covered in (biodegradable) glitter like the kind that Diggins sprinkles on her face before every race.—
Bill McKibben,
New Yorker,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Groff sprinkles this punchy, athletic syntax over a slew of intricate settings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Berber carpet Berber is a type of loop pile carpet with flecks of color.—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
-
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
-
Barnett dots up Knight for a 57-yard catch-and-run.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Rather than the stiff alien chitchat that dots his own screenplays, the characters in The Favourite trade the witty, venomous bon mots of The Great creator Tony McNamara.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Keep an eye out for tiny brown or orange specks, especially around door edges, undercarriage, and seams.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Keep an eye out for tiny brown or orange specks, especially around door edges, undercarriage and seams.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
What Sacks doesn’t get is that by financing and diplomatically supporting Israel, our country makes the crimes of the Israeli government possible, which stains America’s reputation in the world and drains our Treasury.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Every failure of the state now stains the turban as well as the uniform.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Acoustic and clean electric guitars, an electric piano, a clavinet, Mellotron patches, a nice acoustic piano, and a tonewheel organ are also available.—
Jamie Lendino,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Formulated with three powerful ingredients, these pads are designed to refine pores, soothe damaged skin and help fade the look of uneven patches.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the clip, posted by Juls Piles (@julspiles), the 21-year-old can be seen swimming away from a boat to retrieve her floatie in the sea, when her brother suddenly spots a shark in the water.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
With Dylan preoccupied, Greg heads to the bar and spots Cristle.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Splotches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/splotches. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
