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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in glimmer
a very small amount
not a speck of explanation to accompany the book's pictures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in particle
a very small piece
a speck of dust was preventing the laser from reading the disc
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of speck
Heather Havrilesky, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
The moon appears incredibly large in the foreground of the image since it is located much closer to Earth than Saturn, the sixth planet from the sun, which, by comparison, appears as nearly a speck behind the prominent natural satellite.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2025
Brian Lowry, CNN, 19 Apr. 2018
To get into the spirit, order a ginger beer and rock shrimp fritters, fried balls of doughy goodness specked with bell pepper and spices that come steaming hot with a side of spicy mayo.
—Mark Kurlyandchik, Detroit Free Press, 12 Feb. 2018
See All Example Sentences for speck
Noun
This obviously means piece of peach or speck of fish or smear of hotness — but in French, therefore classy.
—Heather Havrilesky, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
The moon appears incredibly large in the foreground of the image since it is located much closer to Earth than Saturn, the sixth planet from the sun, which, by comparison, appears as nearly a speck behind the prominent natural satellite.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
For all its strengths, though, the series proves a bit of a slog, at times, as the wheels turn along the dusty, blood-specked road to wherever this maze leads.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 19 Apr. 2018
To get into the spirit, order a ginger beer and rock shrimp fritters, fried balls of doughy goodness specked with bell pepper and spices that come steaming hot with a side of spicy mayo.
—Mark Kurlyandchik, Detroit Free Press, 12 Feb. 2018
See All Example Sentences for speck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speck
Noun
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Normally, landing a star of Dončić’s caliber at such a young age would take every fleck of gold in the safe.—
C. Clark, M. Vorkunov and F. Katz,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
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Tips and Tricks: During this event, the moon will begin to travel in front of the Pleiades stars around 11 P.M. Eastern Time, concealing several of the blueish flecks as the night goes on.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Outside Online,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
There is one thing to note, however, that could be a glimmer of hope.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes,
25 Mar. 2025
-
Any hope of the U.S. team making the final in San Francisco after glimmers of a good performance — like being in third place during the final race — evaporated as the crew struggled to maintain stable flight on its frisky F50 boat.—
Andrew Rice,
The Athletic,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
That’s due to high energy particles spiraling in the galactic magnetic field and emitting enormous amounts of radiation, Hibbard says.—
Bruce Dorminey,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Vacuum energy describes the density of particles popping in and out of existence.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
To add scouring power, sprinkle kosher salt on the lemon, which acts as a gentle abrasive to scour away odor-causing buildup and residue.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Mar. 2025
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Will people obey this new law and stop eating this ingredient, cease and desist from mixing its powder with their milk, sprinkling it onto their ice-cream?—
Walter E Block,
Orange County Register,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Dark brown blotches with black edges dot its back, sometimes joining together to form bands.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2025
-
Doctors could see white blotches and smears around those dark spaces, indicating lesions.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Trump’s contrived veneer is being ripped away to reveal an immoral, mendacious, transactional opportunist, without a shred of loyalty to anyone or anything but himself.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2025
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When the last shreds of sunlight vanish, everyone pulls their car up to the field and turns on their headlights.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Elaborately decorated horse harnesses, ceremonial spears, ornate cauldrons, bridle bits and hundreds of other 2,000-year-old artifacts have been unearthed in England.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
26 Mar. 2025
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Because one commissioner is chomping at the bit to raise the current 25-foot building height limit there.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The rest of the year, aside from the occasional sunbather, the area is mostly used by geese, who often leave the lawn dotted with their excrement.—
Kale Williams,
Axios,
25 Mar. 2025
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Bike lanes and in-lane bus stops with boarding islands are featured along the road in the bucolic neighborhood dotted with high-end boutiques and trendy restaurants.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
22 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Speck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speck. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
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