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
These spots stand out against dark brown backgrounds, mottling their typically beige or gray bodies. Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2024 Some are near-alabaster or silvery, others the darkest of greens, and there are variegated choices, striped or mottled in gold or white or silver. Margaret Roach, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mottle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mottle
Noun
  • Their backs are a mixture of cream dots, orange-ish speckles and brown blotches.
    Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 2 June 2025
  • These are more typically animals with stripes instead of blotches, missing patterns, and similar.
    Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • Remove from the heat and sprinkle the gelatin over the top and let stand for about 5 minutes.
    Georgeanne Brennan, Mercury News, 5 June 2025
  • It’s topped with various treats like toffee pieces, caramel popcorn, and golden star sprinkles.
    Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • Santo My Palo can best be described as an otherworldly nude shade with multicolored glittery flecks suspended in the gel that reflect light for a mega-watt sparkle.
    Fiona Embleton, Glamour, 27 May 2025
  • The formula—which sparkles in the bottle with rose-gold flecks of glitter—is made more indulgent yet with its gourman, coconut-milk scent.
    Jenny Berg, Vogue, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • Starting from the broad goal of providing more shade, the process expanded in 2021 and eventually resulted in the planters that now dot the streets.
    Thomas E. Weber, Time, 6 June 2025
  • Below the artwork, fresh plantings of pincushion protea flowers in a rainbow of colors dot a linear garden, brightening up a path students and teachers will walk every day.
    Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • Chase is the arena sponsor for the Golden State Warriors, while Rakuten has a patch on the team’s jersey.
    Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 5 June 2025
  • On the other hand, even without a patch, Apex Legends ran better than before.
    Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 5 June 2025
Verb
  • Outside, people were returning from the aid hub, mostly empty-handed, while empty flour bags stained with blood lay on the ground.
    Mohammad Jahjouh, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
  • The doors to several apartments on the first floor remained stained with the victims’ bloody handprints Saturday.
    Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 31 May 2025
Noun
  • The whole process is more NASA than NASCAR in that there’s not a speck of grease or oil on the bright, white vinyl flooring and everybody’s hands are clean.
    Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
  • Or a percentage of a fraction of a risk — better lock him up, than risk a speck of backlash.
    David Katz, IndieWire, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • McCollum relayed the report to then-Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson, who peppered him.
    Alec Lewis, New York Times, 2 June 2025
  • The water is fed by 72-degree springs, so if your lungs are up for it, pepper the relaxation under the sun with some underwater forays.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mottle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottle. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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