spotted 1 of 2

adjective

ˈspä-təd How to pronounce spotted (audio)
Definition of spottednext
1
as in dotted
marked with spots the spotted tablecloth clashed with the stripes on the wallpaper

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in colored
having blotches of two or more colors not surprisingly, the white cow and black bull had a spotted calf

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

spotted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of spot
1
as in sprinkled
to mark with small spots especially unevenly to give the effect of sunlight on water, the artist spotted the lake in his painting with flecks of gold paint

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2
as in noticed
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes I spotted both of them as they tried to sneak out the back door

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sprayed
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on the TV networks had spotted reporters all over the state for the election

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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 spotted
Adjective
Bites can cause rickettsia parkeri, a type of spotted fever. — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 8 June 2026 The spotted fish thrashes angrily, disturbing the waters so that the pool’s edge laps against the rock. — Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Verb
Kardashian and Hamilton have been romantically linked since February, when they were spotted together in the Cotswolds and later made an early public appearance at the Super Bowl, both dressed in black. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2026 Flip it over, and the in-house Calibre Heuer 02 can be clearly spotted through the sapphire caseback. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spotted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spotted
  1. dotted
  2. colored
  3. sprinkled
  4. noticed
  5. sprayed
  6. blotched
  7. stained
  8. saw
Adjective
  • Peghah Maleknejad, fashion director of Hero and Heroine Magazine, bought the dotted mesh long dress for $359 on her phone while waiting for the Alainpaul show to start.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
  • To reduce confusion, the top plate has a dotted pattern around each key position that can accept a magnetic switch.
    — Francisco Lahoz, PC Magazine, 12 Sep. 2026
Definition of dotted
Adjective
  • Hazel is actually an unusual, multi-colored eye type that features a mix of brown, green, and gold or amber hues.
    — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2026
  • In a city better known for restrained modernism, La Tulipe is a playful bouquet of concrete and colored glass.
    — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of colored
Verb
  • The Fort Worth list indicates restaurants mostly downtown, the Shops at Clearfork and a few sprinkled in the Stockyards.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The songs, contemporary pop sprinkled with disco pixie dust, are of a piece with the tone of Benanti’s self-skewering comedy.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of sprinkled
Verb
  • In 2025, a group of experts on iron objects had noticed a sixteenth- or seventeenth-century strongbox that Gardner had purchased in 1894, in Italy.
    — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Eventually, her friend—local musician and record producer Jay Oliver—noticed her talent and gave her a foot in the door by recording advertising jingles for the likes of McDonald’s and Toyota.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of noticed
Verb
  • The shared affinity was clear in the celebration, as Mesa sprayed Cash with alcohol, and Vilade and Erik Neander, the team’s president of baseball operations, embraced while Vilade was interviewed.
    — Nicolas Villamil, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The castles are built by hand using sprayed and dripped water to form pillars, tunnels, fountains, crawl spaces and slides.
    — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of sprayed
Adjective
  • The whole rug needs to get wet or colors in the fiber could migrate and result in a blotched look.
    — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2025
Definition of blotched
Verb
  • Bookshelves are crammed with novels and almanacs, the wood boards of the ceilings stained dark in delicious contrast to the clean white walls and creamy linen furnishings.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The yellow color from the fenbendazole stained his white goatee.
    — Trisha Thadani Kirsten Potter Tanya Pérez Devin Murphy, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of stained
Verb
  • In the book, Covey tells the story of a man relentlessly sawing down a tree.
    — Tony Gambill, Forbes.com, 2 June 2026
  • Jordan Walker, sawed off by a 96 mph sinker, lined out softly.
    — Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 19 Apr. 2026
Definition of saw

Browse Nearby Words

spots
spotted
spotter
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Cite this Entry

“Spotted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spotted. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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