stipple

verb

ˈsti-pəl How to pronounce stipple (audio)
Definition of stipplenext
as in to dot
to mark with small spots especially unevenly the sunlight falling through the lace curtain stippled her face

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 stipple Yellow stippling on plant leaves and sticky honeydew residue can be signs of pests, but pests can also cause leaf wilting and stunted growth. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2026 Two pumps on the back of my hand did the trick, stippling it across my red-speckled cheeks and around my nose. — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2025 Inside the passage, the lips of water beyond my torchlight are coal black, stippled with freckles of sediment. — Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025 The yellowing, eventually turning to brown, starts with stippling or tiny dots on the foliage where mites have pierced the leaves’ epidermis with their stylets or sucking mouthparts. — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stipple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stipple
  1. dot
  2. sprinkle
  3. stain
  4. marble
  5. dye
Verb
  • The train winds up Michigan’s west coast, offering brief but sweeping views of Lake Michigan and bisecting lush, Midwestern farmland dotted with trees resplendent in their autumn wardrobes.
    — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The neighborhood cameras have prompted pushback in localities big and small, dotting red and blue states.
    — Max Zahn, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of dot
Verb
  • However, the Tar Heels have some dangerous playmakers sprinkled around the roster, including sophomore running back Demon June and junior wide receiver Jordan Shipp, who had 84 yards against TCU last season.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Coltrane is also deeply interested in the Buddhist principles of karma and dharma, or the moral duties and obligations to a right way of life, which are sprinkled throughout the novel.
    — Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of sprinkle
Verb
  • The Lincoln, the length of its hull stained by rust from the extended time at sea, pulled into the port of Laem Chabang, not far from the city of Pattaya, a prime destination for US military rest-and-relaxation visits since the Vietnam War.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The white cocoons are torn through and stained with yellow-brown secretions.
    — Jonathan Flint, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of stain
Verb
  • 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
  • Just offshore from Ambergris Caye, Belize’s largest island, the Caribbean Sea takes on a mesmerizing, almost marbled quality.
    — Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of marble
Verb
  • The result depends not only on the chemical being used, but also on how it is applied, how the garment was dyed, how the fabric responds and how each stage of the process is controlled.
    — Alice Tonello, Footwear News, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Window treatments were made from oksa silk, a sheer, organza-like textile dyed with onion peels.
    — Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of dye

Browse Nearby Words

stipends
stipple
stippled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stipple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stipple. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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