mottling

verb

present participle of mottle
as in sprinkling
to mark with small spots especially unevenly old papers that were mottled by mold

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mottling
  1. sprinkling
  2. staining
  3. dotting
  4. flecking
  5. spotting
  6. stippling
  7. dyeing
  8. dappling
Verb
  • This means there’s lots of ways to add them to your diet, including blending ground flaxseed into smoothies or sprinkling whole flaxseeds on top of oatmeal.
    — Mark Gurarie, HEALTH, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Imagine sprinkling Cool Ranch Dorito seasoning on giant Fritos.
    — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of sprinkling
Verb
  • Hydrogen peroxide acts as a mild disinfectant that kills mold and bacteria and is very helpful for light staining.
    — Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Use only white, clear or purple products on your hair to avoid staining.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of staining
Verb
  • While timber and bountiful harvests may not seem to have anything to do with the planes dotting Atlanta’s skies, a new coalition sees potential in connecting the two.
    — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • London/New York — The bars, theaters and restaurants dotting central London may not seem like a conflict zone.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of dotting
Verb
  • That’s squishing the spoonbills to new corners of Florida Bay, both to inland spots of the Everglades that used to be dry and have gone soggy and to some of the tiny mangrove islands flecking the bay.
    — Alex Harris July 8, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026
Definition of flecking
Verb
  • Passengers screamed after spotting the co-pilot stabbing the captain, and the flight from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, to the Israeli city of Tel Aviv began a steep dive.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
  • But Topo Chico fans have already begun spotting the familiar green bottles — and celebrating online.
    — Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of spotting
Verb
  • Two pumps on the back of my hand did the trick, stippling it across my red-speckled cheeks and around my nose.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2025
  • The yellowing, eventually turning to brown, starts with stippling or tiny dots on the foliage where mites have pierced the leaves’ epidermis with their stylets or sucking mouthparts.
    — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
Definition of stippling
Verb
  • The Grammy-winning singer has never shied away from dyeing her hair.
    — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 30 May 2026
  • Any colors that can catch your eye from a plate (and make your mouth water) are guaranteed to make an impact in 2026; edible flowers are the key to organically dyeing drinks and desserts with different hues.
    — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 May 2026
Definition of dyeing
Verb
  • With the light dappling down from a sunroof, my dress was presented in all her glory.
    — Alexandra Macon, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Gaze out the viewing window to forest views, and wake up to sunlight dappling the geometric ceiling.
    — Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of dappling
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.

Browse Nearby Words

mottles
mottling
motto
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Cite this Entry

“Mottling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottling. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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