dots 1 of 2

plural of dot
as in flecks
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part there was just a dot on the tablecloth where the food had spattered

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dots

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of dot
1
as in sprays
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on a hillside dotted with wildflowers

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2
as in sprinkles
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

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 dots
Noun
In Raad’s hands, the dots read as much confetti as forensic notations. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 25 Oct. 2026 The researchers varied how many dots moved together, ranging from 81 percent of the dots coherently moving together, which is trivially easy to determine, down to 3 percent, which is barely distinguishable from noise. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026 Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner to access activity, settings, and sharing submenus. — John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026 After the 2023 carnage, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (which owns and operates the center) applied visible markers — a film of tiny dots — to the glass, reducing bird collisions by 95%, according to an analysis by the Field Museum. — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 Earlier this year, YouTube removed the dislike button from YouTube Shorts, suggesting instead that users take advantage of options in the three-dots menu. — Jay Peters, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026 The shade that looks most natural may depend on skin tone, application and how much the dots are blended. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026 Meta’s Muse and OpenAI’s dots go a step further to perform day-to-day tasks on a person’s behalf. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026 Before clicking, check the advertiser by selecting the three dots next to a Google search ad. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Verb
Prepare to be dazzled from Warsaw’s highest viewing terrace atop Varso Tower, which proudly dots the skyline, before eating your way through the innovative food halls that define the coolest neighborhoods. — Kasia Dietz, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2026 Japanese linens top the bed, and designer furniture dots the living space. — Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 1 May 2026 Barnett dots up Knight for a 57-yard catch-and-run. — Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 28 Oct. 2025 Rather than the stiff alien chitchat that dots his own screenplays, the characters in The Favourite trade the witty, venomous bon mots of The Great creator Tony McNamara. — A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025 The $3,211 per month maintenance fees cover a part-time doorman and a fitness studio, while the location provides easy access to Madison Square Park plus all the shopping and dining that dots the area. — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dots
Noun
  • The oversized jacket featured a furry white base adorned with flecks of silver, which beautifully mirrored the sumptuous coats on the runway.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Add the torn basil and process just until incorporated -- there will be flecks of green in the mixture.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Officials said the pesticide is an ultra-low-volume treatment that sprays approximately two tablespoons per acre.
    — Michele Gile, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • There’s Tanner, the middle of three boys who lives in his hometown and pilots a plane for the family business that sprays pesticides on crops.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Kemery sprinkles the tiny seeds either in late fall or very early spring, when there’s still a chance of frost, since cold spells offer the best germination.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026
  • Thomson sprinkles critique throughout his book like seasoning unevenly applied to a gamey piece of meat.
    — Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • The source was generally in good condition, but mold spots and dense clusters of small white specks required careful treatment.
    — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Breakouts can look like milder, painless white bumps or dark specks known as whiteheads and blackheads, or more painful red bumps and deeper cysts — a mark of cystic acne.
    — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Lacy, who is famously fluid in his sexuality and laughs off any attempt to define it, peppers his songs with dreams of men and women, of wanting each yet leaving everyone.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026
  • Instead, each child interacts only with a sophisticated artificial intelligence, which peppers them with questions about everything from mathematics to philosophy.
    — Niral Shah, The Conversation, 15 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • Mom spots shipwreck hiding beneath lake after years of beach visits.
    — , FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Along the route, another driver yells out their window to say hi to Hollywell, while Ayo spots two friends on bicycles and greets them with a cheerful grin and full-body wave.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Juveniles can be distinguished by their dark facial bands and gray or tan body patterned with black or brown blotches.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Crews are also using steam to remove blotches of chewing gum, which have turned black over time.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Advocates argue carts are silent, occupy less space than tourist vans and buses, and don’t choke the air with exhaust that also stains historic monuments.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The man lies a few yards behind them, but the image stains her field of vision.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dots. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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