1
as in colored
having blotches of two or more colors
a mottled complexion
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dotted
marked with spots
mottled leather upholstery that isn't supposed to look perfect
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sprinkled
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
old papers that were mottled by mold
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mottled
Jen Rose Smith, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Water sluiced from its mottled gray skin, pooling across the weathered wood, and the tail thumped weakly against the planks with a hollow, wet slap.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025
The Illinois skies are mottled.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mottled
Adjective
Inside the old asylum, plaster peeled from mottled walls and holes gaped in the ceiling.
—Verb
Shiny and dark evergreen foliage is held aloft on strong, arching stems mottled with purple flecks.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for mottled
Adjective
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During this time, monarchs cluster together in packed colonies for warmth—in a good year, thousands of monarchs might rest on a single tree, creating a kaleidoscope of brilliantly colored wings.—
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Remember, a hard freeze will still damage them, turning them mushy and off-colored.—
Adjective
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Most of the back is covered in a dotted texture imprinted directly into the plastic.—
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In fact, each has proven to be a false alarm, as slowdowns in momentum have consistently led to new buying opportunities (as indicated by the blue, dotted vertical lines).—
Verb
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Extra charm could be sprinkled on you during your birthday month, extra intuitive wisdom is another gift.—
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The landscape is sprinkled with white houses and Malvasia vineyards, and appears to have drifted from its volcanic friends to find its own patch of tropical-grade water.—
Adjective
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Troupe says the best way to spend a winter day is by sipping local marbled cold brew from Caffé D'arte in Pioneer Square and walking through Occidental Square to admire the holiday lights.—
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Russian state media outlets shared images of the building’s marbled pillars and staircases as dancers, wearing kokoshniks, traditional Russian headdresses, performed.—
Adjective
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Hire a charter and head out to the deep sea, rent a kayak from Bayou Adventure’s Rental Kiosk and test the waters on the bay side, or stay on land and reel in black drum and speckled trout from one of the island’s two piers or a folding chair on the beach.—
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Even the linen neps, which give it a stylish, speckled appearance, are random, so no two pieces are identical.—
Verb
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Frank doesn’t mind having people killed for his agenda, but has avoided getting his hands stained with blood.—
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Cut the blanket into smaller pieces, avoiding areas that are worn, ripped, or stained, and turn them into pillow covers, tote bags, cushions, dog bedding, and more.—
Adjective
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The whole rug needs to get wet or colors in the fiber could migrate and result in a blotched look.—
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Its leaves are deciduous and sometimes white-blotched.—
Verb
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This double-crust, old-fashioned pie may look ordinary on the outside, but when it's sliced, the inside reveals vibrant orange layers of sweet potatoes flecked with spices and sweetened with sugar and sorghum syrup.—
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Halcyon, a mauve tone with turquoise shimmer, and Nymphaea, a magenta flecked with pink and lilac glitter.—
Cite this Entry
“Mottled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mottled. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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