as in fleck
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part
the clouds threw dapples of shadow over the eerily quiet street
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to sprinkle
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
sunlight dappled the canopy of vines over our heads
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dapple
Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 17 Nov. 2022
Piglet is a Chihuahua-dachshund mix, with a genetic condition called double dapple that causes eyesight and hearing difficulties.
—Susan Dunne, courant.com, 29 Jan. 2022
Brad Japhe, Travel + Leisure, 22 Jan. 2025
The subtlest animation looks the best, especially when sunlight dapples upon fur or felines flex their claws to assert power.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dapple
Noun
Gleaming spots caused by methane ice clouds in the planet's atmosphere dapple its lower half.
—Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 17 Nov. 2022
Piglet is a Chihuahua-dachshund mix, with a genetic condition called double dapple that causes eyesight and hearing difficulties.
—Susan Dunne, courant.com, 29 Jan. 2022
Verb
It’s lined with shops and cafes, but Pimlico Road is also dappled with the most delightful design, commercial galleries, and furniture stores in the city, all of which are worth exploring for an afternoon.
—Brad Japhe, Travel + Leisure, 22 Jan. 2025
The subtlest animation looks the best, especially when sunlight dapples upon fur or felines flex their claws to assert power.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dapple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dapple
Noun
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Made from 100 percent Donegal merino wool, the Finisterre Farne Women’s Crew Neck Knit Sweater comes in a choice of shades, all with subtle flecks of contrasting color.—
Jessica Macdonald,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Mar. 2025
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Normally, landing a star of Dončić’s caliber at such a young age would take every fleck of gold in the safe.—
C. Clark, M. Vorkunov and F. Katz,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Rosemary bonded with Kennedy’s larger-than-life second wife, Eleanora, who was almost a decade younger than Rosemary, but acted as her fairy godmother, sprinkling money and sisterly advice.—
Susannah Cahalan,
Rolling Stone,
17 Apr. 2025
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Rainbow and trans flags could be seen sprinkled throughout the crowd, along with a dozen or so Moms for Liberty shirts.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Former Playhouse Gang member Shaun Weiss needed to connect the dots.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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Wait to connect the dots after, instead of before, the hard evidence is in.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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If Bonhoeffer’s example is used to justify more far-right Christian violence in America, that would be another tragedy — and a cruel irony that would stain the legacy of a man who gave up everything to confront a tyrant.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
13 Apr. 2025
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Pérez's manager, Enrique Paulino, spoke to reporters at the scene, his shirt stained with blood.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Now the Mediterranean-style digs high above Malibu Canyon have popped up for sale, asking a speck under $13 million.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
10 Apr. 2025
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You cant be expected to clean every speck of dust in every nook and cranny.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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There’s a nice mix of experience and youth marbled through the lineup, with Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers leading the offence.—
Allan Mitchell,
The Athletic,
8 Jan. 2025
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The score is based on the amount of marbling in the meat.—
Reia Li,
The Arizona Republic,
10 Dec. 2024
Noun
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But this season, the one with the 4-15-0 blotch on the calendar from late November to early January, there’s no way to feel OK about Sunday.—
Arthur Staple,
The Athletic,
17 Mar. 2025
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The fish have white faces with a black blotch in front of the eyes, according to the study.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Then, on Monday, a series of billboards advertising the album peppered the main roads into Stillwater, where Turnpike co-headlines this weekend with Ragweed for more than 180,000 ticketholders.—
Josh Crutchmer,
Rolling Stone,
11 Apr. 2025
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That was apparent even in the first period, as the Canucks — a team that’s struggled enormously all season to generate looks and scoring chances — peppered their old teammate DeSmith with all manner of quality chances.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dapple. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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