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
Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2026
The specks of light are small bombs, each carrying up to 11 pounds of explosives, which are released at high altitude from the head of the missile before raining down indiscriminately over a wide area.
—Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
New York Times, 16 Nov. 2019
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
See All Example Sentences for speck
Noun
On Saturday, a gruesome smear of dark red blood could still be found on the sidewalk, with specks of blood being found near a Citi Bike charging station.
—Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2026
The specks of light are small bombs, each carrying up to 11 pounds of explosives, which are released at high altitude from the head of the missile before raining down indiscriminately over a wide area.
—Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
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
See All Example Sentences for speck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speck
Noun
-
Berber carpet Berber is a type of loop pile carpet with flecks of color.—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Using x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, scholars determined that the ancient off-white fluid was composed of calcite, huntite, and miniscule flecks of yellow orpiment, a highly toxic sulfide of arsenic that Egyptians also used in medicine to treat syphilis and malaria.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Following three straight 100-loss seasons that led to a front-office house cleaning, Rockies fans are peering down the road for glimmers of hope.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Thus, Archer says the book offers a glimmer of hope to its readers.—
Gqlshare,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Dozens of amateur and professional photographers were invited to find beauty in the invisible world of force fields and subatomic particles, which blip into existence for fractions of a second and hold secrets about the origin and fate of the universe.—
Zack Savitsky,
Quanta Magazine,
1 Apr. 2026
-
When the fungi were grown on wood chips or sawdust, the resulting spongy material could be pressed and baked into blocks and sheets resembling concrete, particle board, and plywood.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After the mac and cheese bakes for 15 minutes, a crisp and tasty topping is sprinkled on top, adding a welcome texture contrast.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Nature design motifs are sprinkled throughout the dining room, such as redwood paneling bearing carvings of a redwood tree and a topography map of Kirkwood Mountain, where the Riches like to ski.—
Cesar Hernandez,
San Francisco Chronicle,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Early salt damage often appears as pale, chalky blotches or uneven fading in the paint finish.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Her zapping turns her entire head of hair — not just a streak — shocking white à la Jean Harlow, and leaves an oddly-appealing black blotch on her cheek.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In the harsh afternoon sun, it was deserted except for dogs dozing on the rocks, and lovers seeking a shred of privacy.—
Taran Khan,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Anyone with a shred of empathy would have a hard time understanding why a person would ever do this.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
A little bit of that football mindset in the sense of you just got to go 1-0 that day.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Hours and hours of rolling green hills and rice paddies passed by the windows, the pale pools amid the shoots flashing bits of sky.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Depending on how late winter goes, the Meriden Daffodil Festival on May 2 and 3 may not be bursting with fresh daffodils dotting the historic Hubbard Park.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Rooms Twenty-four one- and two-bedroom tents are fronted by a winding lagoon dotted with lily pads and bordered by tropical greenery.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Speck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speck. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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