speckle

1 of 2

noun

speck·​le ˈspe-kəl How to pronounce speckle (audio)
Synonyms of specklenext
: a little speck (as of color)

speckle

2 of 2

verb

speckled; speckling ˈspe-k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce speckle (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to mark with speckles
2
: to be distributed in or on like speckles

Synonyms of speckle

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Noun

Verb

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Examples of speckle in a Sentence

Noun a ripe banana with lots of brown speckles the cat has a speckle of orange right at her whiskers Verb speckled the cookies with colored sugar
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.
Noun
The designs include a bright orange mug, a white mug with orange dots and a to-go iced coffee cup complete with an orange straw, white speckles and a tiny orange pumpkin detail. — Carly Sauvageau, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026 Devil’s Den State Park, Arkansas Wood and stone structures erected by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s speckle the rugged landscape of Devil’s Den State Park. — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2026
Verb
The cosmos may be speckled with black hole stars, celestial entities that have the properties of both black holes and stars. — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 26 Aug. 2026 Deep red, speckled with pork fat, smoky from chile, and balanced with an undertone of mint. — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for speckle

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English; akin to Old English specca

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of speckle was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing speckle

Rhymes for speckle

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Browse Nearby Words

speckiness
speckle
specklebelly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Speckle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speckle. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

speckle

1 of 2 noun
speck·​le ˈspek-əl How to pronounce speckle (audio)
: a small mark (as of color)

speckle

2 of 2 verb
speckled; speckling ˈspek-(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce speckle (audio)
: to mark with speckles
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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