patchier; patchiest
Synonyms of patchynext
1
: marked by, consisting of, or diversified with patches
2
: irregular in appearance, makeup, or quality
patchily adverb
patchiness noun

Examples of patchy in a Sentence

The lawn is kind of patchy this year. Patchy fog made driving difficult. His knowledge of the language is patchy. She has only a patchy understanding of his condition.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Robotic lawn mowers have promised hands-free yard care for years, but for many homeowners the reality has involved buried perimeter wires, complex RTK base stations, patchy coverage, and frequent rescue missions from tricky corners of the yard. New Atlas, 15 Mar. 2026 Some patchy fog was also reported inland as well. Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026 Overgrown, Patchy Lawn Overgrown or patchy lawns can instantly signal neglect and negatively impact the rest of the home's architecture, Evgenia Ermolaeva, the founder and interior designer at ED Interior, says. Jane Kim, The Spruce, 11 Mar. 2026 If your lawn is patchy, gets heavy foot traffic, or could use some extra TLC, overseeding twice a year can help. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for patchy

Word History

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of patchy was in 1583

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Cite this Entry

“Patchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patchy. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

patchy

adjective
patchier; patchiest
: consisting of or marked by patches : resembling patchwork

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