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.
Overwatering, watering at the wrong time of day, and relying on inefficient habits can all drive up your water bill—not to mention leave your grass weaker, patchier, and more vulnerable to disease. Cori Sears, The Spruce, 14 June 2026 Adoption in core underwriting, though, is still patchy, with industry trackers showing only a minority of property and casualty insurers so far using AI to support their underwriters. Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026 Their efforts initially met only patchy success. H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 12 June 2026 For global operators, Africa’s youthful population and patchy broadband networks offer a mix of scale and unmet demand. Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 12 June 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 19 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

patchy

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

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