1
as in spraying
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on
a hillside dotted with wildflowers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in sprinkling
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
the practice of some chefs of positioning a small portion of food in the center and dotting the rest of the plate with sauce
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dotting
Umbrellas are dotting the viewing area as a Marine band entertains guests.
—
Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
And some nail artists use a dotting tool or a thin nail brush dipped into the thick gel to fashion their dew-like beads.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 27 Apr. 2026
Along the trail, watch for wildlife, barns dotting the countryside, and scenic river overlooks.
—Robin Pfeifer, Midwest Living, 23 Apr. 2026
The crime scene stretched across multiple city blocks, with dozens of blue and yellow evidence markers dotting the pavement.
—CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
It's got summer charm aplenty with surf shops and classic beachfront hotels dotting its shore.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2026
Clean Mirrors If there are fingerprints and toothpaste remnants dotting your mirror, grab a Swiffer, glass cleaner, and a microfiber cloth.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026
To recreate at home, use varying sizes of dotting tools, making sure to let each layer dry before applying the next.
—Georgia Day, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2026
Come winter, beach towns like this one dotting the Atlantic Coast stretch of Florida surrounding Fort Lauderdale have long brimmed with French Canadian tourists and other snowbirds who arrive for warmth and sunshine.
—CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
And some nail artists use a dotting tool or a thin nail brush dipped into the thick gel to fashion their dew-like beads.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 27 Apr. 2026
Along the trail, watch for wildlife, barns dotting the countryside, and scenic river overlooks.
—Robin Pfeifer, Midwest Living, 23 Apr. 2026
The crime scene stretched across multiple city blocks, with dozens of blue and yellow evidence markers dotting the pavement.
—CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
It's got summer charm aplenty with surf shops and classic beachfront hotels dotting its shore.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2026
Clean Mirrors If there are fingerprints and toothpaste remnants dotting your mirror, grab a Swiffer, glass cleaner, and a microfiber cloth.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026
To recreate at home, use varying sizes of dotting tools, making sure to let each layer dry before applying the next.
—Georgia Day, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2026
Come winter, beach towns like this one dotting the Atlantic Coast stretch of Florida surrounding Fort Lauderdale have long brimmed with French Canadian tourists and other snowbirds who arrive for warmth and sunshine.
—CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dotting
Verb
-
Nataliia had gone to the bus station, where soldiers were spraying foam to contain the nuclear fallout, and to the hospital, where men in white coats were unloading victims on stretchers from the backs of ambulances.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
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Keep your refrigerator spick-and-span by washing produce drawers with hot water and soap, and spraying all surfaces down with a disinfecting (but non-toxic and food-friendly) vinegar solution.—
Elizabeth Brownfield,
Southern Living,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some suggest sprinkling it on the soil around your plants to keep slugs away, but baking soda has the potential of seeping into the soil and damaging roots.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2026
-
But in 2026, simply sprinkling in a few whimsical accents isn’t quite enough.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Chelsea dominated possession without peppering Lucas Perri’s goal, but United offered next to nothing in the other direction.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Fragrant blooms cover plants in spring, with repeat blooming through summer and fall, peppering the air with their distinctive clove-like scent.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Allow the area to dry and repeat the process if visible mold or staining remains.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
25 Apr. 2026
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If your books have already been affected, the staining will likely remain—even after treatment—and mold may return, Fifield warns.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dotting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dotting. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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