speck 1 of 2

noun

ˈspek How to pronounce speck (audio)
Definition of specknext
1
as in fleck
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part a lizard with specks of white against a green body

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2
as in glimmer
a very small amount not a speck of explanation to accompany the book's pictures

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in particle
a very small piece a speck of dust was preventing the laser from reading the disc

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

speck

2 of 2

verb

as in to sprinkle
to mark with small spots especially unevenly dirt that had specked the windows of the factory for ages

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 speck
Noun
Kansas City isn't much of a pedestrian city, but now, blue and green specks of fans dot the sidewalks, like wildflowers poking through a crack in the pavement. — Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 June 2026 New York State created a Law, for an instant speck of time, going back many decades, in order to wrongfully ‘nab’ me. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 29 June 2026
Verb
Of course local photographer Geoff Baker was out and about in the storm as well, and his black-and-white shot of Main Street, with the snow specking the lens, is also memorable. — Janet Kusterer, Baltimore Sun, 8 Feb. 2026 The 656-foot vessel, called the Golden Ray, has been lying since early September off a slice of the Georgia coast specked with resorts and sprawling high-dollar homes. — New York Times, 16 Nov. 2019 See All Example Sentences for speck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speck
  1. fleck
  2. glimmer
  3. particle
  4. sprinkle
  5. blotch
  6. shred
  7. bit
  8. dot
Noun
  • Light streams through the frosted glass, catching flecks of dust.
    — Ashley Andreou, STAT, 22 June 2026
  • But flecks of green were visible throughout the stadium as Algeria fans made their presence known as well.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2026
Definition of fleck
Noun
  • News crews, Venezuelan officials and nearby residents were drawn to a remarkable scene that offered a glimmer of hope amid the country’s otherwise dystopian tableau.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • Tuesday's rescue marked another glimmer of hope amid the disaster that has devastated the South American country.
    — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of glimmer
Noun
  • Axiom Materials will test how advanced materials perform against rain, hail, and airborne particles.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 2 July 2026
  • Those particles may have been grinding in the joint, causing mechanical wear on the cobalt-chromium femoral head that released cobalt into the surrounding tissue and bloodstream.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026
Definition of particle
Verb
  • Generously sprinkle both sides of the steak well with the dry rub mix.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 3 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
Definition of sprinkle
Noun
  • Verticillium wilt causes similar blotches and yellowing.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2026
  • Pine snakes can grow up to 56 inches in length, have black, brown, and russet scales with dark blotches along their backs, and are noted for having a pointed nose, which experts believe may help with burrowing.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
Definition of blotch
Noun
  • Their main flaw is that the protagonists rarely display a shred of agency or activity.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
  • The rest of the band followed his lead, particularly Green, a relentless head-banger, dropping to her knees to become one with the feedback and leaning back into beatific shred-faces.
    — Steve Knopper, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2026
Definition of shred
Noun
  • This pacing problem extends to subplots like the Henry-in-a-coma bit.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • Scientists pointed out that the abrasion bit the rover used to expose the rocks was sterilized before launch and has cut into other rocks across Jezero without ever producing a G-band this strong.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 4 July 2026
Definition of bit
Verb
  • The coast is dotted with colorful fishing villages, while the region’s interior is made up of rolling green hills and gently sloped vineyards.
    — Tia Lovisa Moreira, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2026
  • Lucky for her, Mackenzie lives here, less than an hour outside of Miami in a state that's dotted with bodies of water.
    — Jonaki Mehta, NPR, 1 July 2026
Definition of dot

Browse Nearby Words

speciousness
speck
specked
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Cite this Entry

“Speck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speck. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on speck

Nglish: Translation of speck for Spanish Speakers

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