as in flecks
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part
there was just a dot on the tablecloth where the food had spattered
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
2
as in sprinkles
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 dots
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
Patterns on the shirts include paisleys, herringbones, windowpanes, glen plaids, pin dots and tattersalls.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 9 Jan. 2026
The dots per inch determines the speed One of the most critical factors for a gaming mouse is the dots per inch or counts per inch.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
The white nails are accented with super small silver dots.
—Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 5 Jan. 2026
Everything else was a motion capture suit that was painted vine-y with purple dots all over.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 4 Jan. 2026
This exhibition connects the dots between art, science and ocean conservation.
—Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
In the western part of the state, Radford, Montgomery, Roanoke City, Martinsville and Danville, Lynchburg and Lexington voted for Spanberger, blue dots in a sea of red.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
This led us to conclude that BiRD belongs to the same family as little red dots.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2025
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
The $3,211 per month maintenance fees cover a part-time doorman and a fitness studio, while the location provides easy access to Madison Square Park plus all the shopping and dining that dots the area.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
When Schwartzstein returned this fall from a brief paternity leave, quarterbacks were now encircled by 36 dots that individually could change from red to green to reflect where the blocking was poor or strong.
—Verb
Barnett dots up Knight for a 57-yard catch-and-run.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for dots
Noun
-
López reportedly found flecks of gold while digging wild onions, sparking an early gold rush.—
-
Shiny and dark evergreen foliage is held aloft on strong, arching stems mottled with purple flecks.—
Verb
-
The warmer temperatures also mean ski areas have been unable to run snowmaking equipment, which sprays mist into the air to create snow in freezing temperatures.—
-
If this is the version of Smith that sprays the ball around to his playmakers and threw four touchdowns against the Jaguars last week, the Raiders can hang.—
Verb
-
Much like Knives Out, the movie takes a much more lighthearted approach and sprinkles humor throughout.—
-
The shareable treat features Galactic Brownie ice cream, fudge drizzle, M&Ms candies, and Halloween sprinkles atop a double fudge brownie crust.—
Noun
-
Microcalcifications appear as white specks and may indicate cancer in some cases.—
-
There were also no visible specks of spices.—
Verb
-
Instead, each child interacts only with a sophisticated artificial intelligence, which peppers them with questions about everything from mathematics to philosophy.—
-
Instead, the original body features a patina that peppers its exterior and is a point of celebration, preserved and maintained for true uniqueness.—
Verb
-
The two begin fighting when Lexi spots the gun on the floor and picks it up.—
-
If anyone spots an American badger in Ohio, they are asked to report it to the Ohio Division of Wildlife.—
Noun
-
Photos show the Maratus australis spider, which has an intricate pattern of blue and brown blotches edged with bright teal and red-orange stripes.—
-
This fungal disease appears as gray blotches on the bark, eventually developing into sunken cankers.—
Verb
-
Blood still regularly stains the floors of the Coliseum’s rings.—
Cite this Entry
“Dots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dots. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share