peppering

verb

present participle of pepper
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

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 peppering The man was riding a standup electric scooter north on Brickell Avenue near Southeast Seventh Street when the Mercedes pulled up to him, and the passengers began peppering him with pellets, according to a Miami police arrest report. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2026 Featuring cameos from Latin superstars like Peso Pluma, J Balvin and Ryan Castro, the LP itself is hard to define as simply house music; RØZ is known best for peppering its EDM with a heavy dose of Latino sazon. — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2026 Finding all these guys, and so many more peppering the scene, served as an important reminder. — Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026 As an amateur race car driver, the villa’s owner wanted elements of his passion peppering the interior. — Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 14 July 2026 Yamal was a thorn in Saudi Arabia’s side, drifting infield to unleash shots from distance but also peppering the penalty area with wicked deliveries from the right flank. — Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 July 2026 Wright asked, peppering in a rather colorful adjective. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 June 2026 Sunnei emerged on the international scene with unexpected and inventive show concepts, and the designers share with Franco Moschino a tongue-in-cheek attitude to fashion, peppering their collections with fashion commentary. — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 21 June 2026 The meeting went off the rails when Pelley, a 50-year veteran journalist, began peppering Bilton with questions and accused Weiss of destroying the show’s sterling reputation. — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 3 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for peppering
  1. spraying
  2. sprinkling
  3. dotting
Verb
  • Avoid spraying liquids directly to prevent damage to internal components and ports.
    — Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 23 Aug. 2026
  • If additional hold is needed, Marjan recommends spraying Paul Mitchell Firm Hold Super Clean Extra Hairspray on the roots and brushing back before wrapping a second elastic around everything.
    — Marci Robin, Allure, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of spraying
Verb
  • Guests were encouraged to offer prayers by sprinkling tobacco, sage, white cedar, and sweetgrass on the fire.
    — Gregory Harutunian, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Wheat, rice, and corn flours are the three most common options for sprinkling over your soil.
    — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of sprinkling
Verb
  • Carla Guilhem, meanwhile, chose to bring a bit more nature into the space, pairing swirling patterns and bold marbles with blue abstract bird dotting the wallpaper, palm trees and jungle cats on pillows, and more.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Deficits in Arizona will be as common as saguaros dotting the landscape.
    — Jess Bryant, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of dotting

Browse Nearby Words

peppered
peppering
pepperoni
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Cite this Entry

“Peppering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peppering. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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