mottle
4 synonyms for mottle, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To cover something with patches of different colours or shades, as though it had been stained.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
First recorded 1670-80, probably a back-formation from motley.
Full origin of mottle →