as in colored
marked with spots a dotted tie that didn't go with his striped shirt at all
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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as in flecked
to mark with small spots especially unevenly the practice of some chefs of positioning a small portion of food in the center and dotting the rest of the plate with sauce
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 dotted
Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026 Cane-Like Begonias Cane-like begonias, known as angel wings, are known for their glossy, dotted, or hairy foliage. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026 Older homes made of wood, which are more prone to igniting, are dotted throughout. —Lauren Sommer, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026 Another six dead roaches dotted kitchen area light shields. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026 Moss wore a black, semi-sheer polka-dot blouse featuring delicate, dotted-mesh fabric that revealed a glimpse of skin underneath. —Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026 The top surface is glass and features a dotted, dark ceramic coating burned into the top of the glass that only one factory in the world can make, according to Thornton. —Pj Green march 3, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026 In this manicure, chrome serves as an accent, adding a pop of icy blue metallic underneath a dotted design. —Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 26 Feb. 2026 Ready to sign on the dotted line? —Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Feb. 2026
Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2026 Sheer cliffs rise from sloping green hills dotted with evergreens. —Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 17 Apr. 2026 In the 300 guest rooms and 86 suites, there are undertones of cream and beige, dotted with blue and orange accents. —Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026 The mansion sits atop a hill, where visitors can walk 1/4 mile along a nature trail dotted with other buildings, including a ranch house, pool house and tea room. —Hans Gutknecht, Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026 All of the retail would be leased to local operators, an intentional divergence from a town dotted with chain stores. —Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2026 The Pennsylvania range which borders New York and New Jersey is less than three hours away from Manhattan by car and dotted with scenic sightseeing destinations such as the Delaware River, Lake Harmony, the namesake Mount Pocono and Pocono Lake, and Lehigh Gorge State Park. —Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 14 Apr. 2026 The infusion of pro basketball players who seek the money-making opportunities and riches of contemporary college sports, coupled with college athletes suing to remain in college as quasi-pros, suggests any line will be dotted, zigzagged and persistently subject to challenge and change. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Apr. 2026 The cameras will be dotted throughout all the districts, from Glassell Park and Chinatown, through South Los Angeles, Koreatown, Playa Vista, Chatsworth and Lincoln Heights. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Similar to the actress’s blouse, this Amazon find has billowy long sleeves, a playful dotted print, and a tie neckline that adds extra fashion flair when poking out from under spring jackets and blazers. —Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026 Cane-Like Begonias Cane-like begonias, known as angel wings, are known for their glossy, dotted, or hairy foliage. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026 Older homes made of wood, which are more prone to igniting, are dotted throughout. —Lauren Sommer, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026 Another six dead roaches dotted kitchen area light shields. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026 Moss wore a black, semi-sheer polka-dot blouse featuring delicate, dotted-mesh fabric that revealed a glimpse of skin underneath. —Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026 The top surface is glass and features a dotted, dark ceramic coating burned into the top of the glass that only one factory in the world can make, according to Thornton. —Pj Green march 3, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026 In this manicure, chrome serves as an accent, adding a pop of icy blue metallic underneath a dotted design. —Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 26 Feb. 2026 Ready to sign on the dotted line? —Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
Explore its 52-block historic district that’s dotted with Victorian mansions, legendary seafood shacks, and an arts scene that far exceeds expectations for a small town. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2026 Sheer cliffs rise from sloping green hills dotted with evergreens. —Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 17 Apr. 2026 In the 300 guest rooms and 86 suites, there are undertones of cream and beige, dotted with blue and orange accents. —Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026 The mansion sits atop a hill, where visitors can walk 1/4 mile along a nature trail dotted with other buildings, including a ranch house, pool house and tea room. —Hans Gutknecht, Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026 All of the retail would be leased to local operators, an intentional divergence from a town dotted with chain stores. —Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2026 The Pennsylvania range which borders New York and New Jersey is less than three hours away from Manhattan by car and dotted with scenic sightseeing destinations such as the Delaware River, Lake Harmony, the namesake Mount Pocono and Pocono Lake, and Lehigh Gorge State Park. —Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 14 Apr. 2026 The infusion of pro basketball players who seek the money-making opportunities and riches of contemporary college sports, coupled with college athletes suing to remain in college as quasi-pros, suggests any line will be dotted, zigzagged and persistently subject to challenge and change. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Apr. 2026 The cameras will be dotted throughout all the districts, from Glassell Park and Chinatown, through South Los Angeles, Koreatown, Playa Vista, Chatsworth and Lincoln Heights. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dotted
Adjective
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Portage police added that while some students play the game safely using brightly colored water guns, others have created dangerous situations that can trigger panic.— Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
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The towering pylon's entire facade lights up with colored LEDs that change according to the time of day, as well as the seasons.— New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Diamonds are sprinkled only along the tips of the beans and on the dial and bezel.— Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2026
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Roasted pumpkin seeds and diced jalapenos sprinkled on top add heat and crunch.— Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The biscuits, flecked with frilly sprigs of dill, are pulled together with sour cream, giving them tenderness and a mild tang.— Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
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Locked in a safe on her desk at Boston University’s Institute for Astrophysical Research is a shard of meteorite flecked with material older than the sun.— James Dinneen, Quanta Magazine, 2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Data from iNaturalist users helps track the migration of invasive species, like the spotted lanternfly.— David Pogue, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
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The resulting hybrid has characteristics of both plants but with softer spines than agaves and the spotted patterns of manfreda plants.— Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The leak required a large-scale decontamination operation in which people had to remove their clothes and be sprayed down, authorities said.— John Raby, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
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The leak required a large scale decontamination operation where people had to remove all their clothes and be sprayed down, authorities said.— CBS News, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Additional surveillance footage showed Marcelin in his building's laundry room cleaning a kitchen mat that appears stained with blood, according to prosecutors.— Ben Brachfeld, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
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One of them, Amy, a blond child with limp ponytails and a thin dress that looks like it might have been stained, stands outside a porch door, her fists balled up, mouth open, angry or unhappy or both.— Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The first is a green-speckled frog holding a leaf umbrella above its head.— Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026
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Seven native rattlesnake species are in California, including the Mojave, Western diamondback, red diamond, Southern Pacific, Northern Pacific, Great Basin, and the speckled rattlesnake.— Jasmine Mendez Follow, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This is the latest lawsuit in a series that recently peppered Fairfield, Greenwich, Stonington, Bethel and Stratford among other communities.— Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2026
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Administration figures peppered public remarks, publications and social media posts with the phrase.— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dotted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/dotted. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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