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
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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
Examples 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
Liz Doupnik, Travel + Leisure, 22 July 2024
Advertisement Sunlight, now higher overhead, dapples the sidewalk with shadows from tall ficus trees.
—Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 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
Sophisticated Sunglasses $14 at Amazon There are plenty of perks to donning a pair of oversized sunglasses: dodging an ex, masking the damage from a night of tasting Tennessee whiskeys, and, of course, comfortably enjoying one of the many restaurant and bar patios dappled throughout town.
—Liz Doupnik, Travel + Leisure, 22 July 2024
Advertisement Sunlight, now higher overhead, dapples the sidewalk with shadows from tall ficus trees.
—Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for dapple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dapple
Noun
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Wow your guests before the first bite—vanilla flecks give desserts a high-quality, artisanal look (and taste).Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2024
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The other side: But concerns over water fluoridation have included fluorosis, when growing teeth are exposed to too much fluoride and develop white flecks or spots, and reduced IQ in children.Kale Williams, Axios, 25 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Just break your cookies into a few large pieces, and sprinkle them in with the pudding and toppers of your choice.Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Dec. 2024
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Special mention to Matheus Cunha, who has sprinkled some magic in a woeful Wolves side, who narrowly missed out.Rory Smith, The Athletic, 25 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The massive black coat features a geometric design with small dots of pastel colors.Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024
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To choose a new search engine for the address bar, click the three dots in a browser tab (top right), then choose Settings.David Nield, WIRED, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Shuford sanded it down, stained the woodwork, and then sealed it for added durability.Alyce Collins, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
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Pooling water turned the dirt into a slippery mud puddle, quickly staining the bottom of the white wedding dress brown.Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
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There were also no visible specks of spices like the Shamrock nog.Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 11 Dec. 2024
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But a break in the case finally came in 2002 when the Contra Costa County forensic lab matched DNA in Kemp’s hair with the genetic makeup of a speck of blood found on one of Wiltsey’s fingernails.Jason Green, The Mercury News, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Each tag is unique due to the intricate marbling process, ensuring that no one will mistake your bag for their own.Amy Jurries, AFAR Media, 20 Dec. 2024
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Duroc ham has a deep red color and lots of marbling, resulting in tender, flavorful meat.Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The horse chestnut leaf blotch pathogen overwinters as fruiting bodies in leaves infected during the previous season.Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2024
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This fungal disease appears as gray blotches on the bark, eventually developing into sunken cankers.Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Reporters peppered Biden with questions during meetings with Angolan leaders about the pardon, but the president did not respond to the matter.Brett Samuels, The Hill, 3 Dec. 2024
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Eagleton peppers his vague promises of better living through technology with references to Jeffrey Epstein, 5G, Anthony Fauci, and scores of other catchall male grievances and desires.Ian Crouch, The New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Dapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dapple. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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