1
as in spraying
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on
pepper the costume with flecks of glitter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in sprinkling
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
spilled flour peppered the kitchen floor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of peppering
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
O’Leary’s just been peppering the house manager with questions about her business and admiring the replica of the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man that dominates the entryway.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 9 Apr. 2026
Netflix is doubling down on film and TV from Argentina, opening a new office in the capital, peppering its slate with four new shows, and dishing updates on various others including the latest season of hit series The Eternaut.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026
The Goldeneyes were the dominant side to start, peppering Osborne with shots early and outshooting the visitors 12-5 in the first period, but struggled to handle New York’s push in the second.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Dover-Sherborn/Weston came out with a major spark to start the third down 4-1, peppering Tigers goalie Jacob Dangel with eight shots in the first three minutes.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
The Portland Timbers came calling in January, and kept peppering Colorado’s front office with offers, according to Bassett.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2026
With members of Congress still peppering the country and globe, the likelihood of bringing a swift resolution to the funding impasse is low.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
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
O’Leary’s just been peppering the house manager with questions about her business and admiring the replica of the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man that dominates the entryway.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 9 Apr. 2026
Netflix is doubling down on film and TV from Argentina, opening a new office in the capital, peppering its slate with four new shows, and dishing updates on various others including the latest season of hit series The Eternaut.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026
The Goldeneyes were the dominant side to start, peppering Osborne with shots early and outshooting the visitors 12-5 in the first period, but struggled to handle New York’s push in the second.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Dover-Sherborn/Weston came out with a major spark to start the third down 4-1, peppering Tigers goalie Jacob Dangel with eight shots in the first three minutes.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
The Portland Timbers came calling in January, and kept peppering Colorado’s front office with offers, according to Bassett.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2026
With members of Congress still peppering the country and globe, the likelihood of bringing a swift resolution to the funding impasse is low.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for peppering
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
-
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
-
Umbrellas are dotting the viewing area as a Marine band entertains guests.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Peppering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peppering. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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