blotched; blotching; blotches
Synonyms of blotchnext

transitive verb

: to mark or mar with blotches

blotch

2 of 3

noun

1
2
: a spot or mark (as of color or ink) especially when large or irregular
-er/-est
1
: having or marked with blotches
2
: like a blotch
blotchily adverb
Hands shaking, Harry unfurled the second message, which was written very hastily and blotchily in black ink. J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 2003

Examples of blotch in a Sentence

Verb blotched the bedroom walls with various shades of blue to give them a textured effect my pen leaked and blotched my shirt pocket Noun blotches on the tree's leaves a dog with a single small blotch of black
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
People emerged from the pools, their pale white skin blotched with red. James Hamblin, The Atlantic, 9 June 2017 His guests, their faces blotched from exertion, stare upward in dismay. Thomas Palmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Noun
The sides may be mottled with brown blotches. Ken Perrotte, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026 Soon, red blotches were sprouting on his skin. Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 17 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for blotch

Word History

Etymology

Noun

perhaps blend of blot entry 1 and botch entry 2

First Known Use

Verb

1772, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1619, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of blotch was in 1619

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blotch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blotch. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

blotch

noun
ˈbläch
1
2
: a large irregular spot (as of color or ink)
blotch verb
blotched
ˈblächt
adjective
blotchy
ˈbläch-ē
adjective

Medical Definition

: a discolored patch on the skin
the face and neck were covered with large reddish blotches
blotch transitive verb

More from Merriam-Webster on blotch

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!