Definition of dapplenext
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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dapple

2 of 2

verb

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 dapple
Noun
In the prelude to a November ballot featuring the candidate synonymous with polarization, all the dapple and nuance of life is once again being reduced to a binary. — Karl Vick, TIME, 2 July 2024 The building's neo-Gothic domes and spires were lit up against the indigo night, creating Impressionist dapples on the river. — Lina Mounzer, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Apr. 2023
Verb
The eight-year-old girl sat obediently for her portrait, her hair dappled in light against foliage. — Literary Hub, 17 July 2026 Let the plant recover in bright, indirect or dappled sunlight for a week, then gradually move it back into more light. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dapple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dapple
Noun
  • As few as 10 cells, hidden in an infinitesimal fleck of feces, can contaminate raw milk and trigger a fatal infection.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The oversized jacket featured a furry white base adorned with flecks of silver, which beautifully mirrored the sumptuous coats on the runway.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 25 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • At Waxwork, the band got to make the vinyl themselves by sprinkling the dust onto the wax and pressing it.
    — Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The Fort Worth list indicates restaurants mostly downtown, the Shops at Clearfork and a few sprinkled in the Stockyards.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Venus and Mercury also make several appearances as large, bright white dots crossing from either side.
    — Damien Pine, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Newspapers and books also joined the dots between apparently disconnected events and items of gossip, helping readers to see their problems in abstract, systemic and political terms.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Bookshelves are crammed with novels and almanacs, the wood boards of the ceilings stained dark in delicious contrast to the clean white walls and creamy linen furnishings.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The yellow color from the fenbendazole stained his white goatee.
    — Trisha Thadani Kirsten Potter Tanya Pérez Devin Murphy, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The source was generally in good condition, but mold spots and dense clusters of small white specks required careful treatment.
    — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Breakouts can look like milder, painless white bumps or dark specks known as whiteheads and blackheads, or more painful red bumps and deeper cysts — a mark of cystic acne.
    — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The Parthenon marbles date to the 5th century BCE and were originally created for the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens.
    — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The meat on the bones varies in thickness and, thanks to marbling and tough connective tissue, short ribs are ideal for slow cooking.
    — Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Juveniles can be distinguished by their dark facial bands and gray or tan body patterned with black or brown blotches.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Crews are also using steam to remove blotches of chewing gum, which have turned black over time.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Surprising, quirky additions are peppered throughout, such as a small trompe l’oeil ceiling fresco of a conservatory roof, complete with climbing roses and birds.
    — Julia Wytrazek, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Acoustic wooden bafflers frame the space and help create a sense of intimacy, with grand works from local artists peppered about and instilling a tangible sense of place.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dapple. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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