1
as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence
only spotty business failures marred the economic boom
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dotted
marked with spots
Dalmatians are spotty dogs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spotty
The vast majority of Tarrant County has access to high-speed broadband, but there’s spotty coverage in parts of Parker and Johnson counties, and there are quite a few unserved areas in Palo Pinto and Erath counties to the west of Fort Worth.
—
Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2025
Rainfall in autumn can be spotty.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
The internet is spotty in the village, which means voice messages every week or two, and no FaceTime.
—Vidushi Mishti Sharma, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
For starters, Pullman’s world-building is spotty, probably intentionally so.
—Lev Grossman, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spotty
Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2025
Rainfall in autumn can be spotty.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
The internet is spotty in the village, which means voice messages every week or two, and no FaceTime.
—Vidushi Mishti Sharma, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
For starters, Pullman’s world-building is spotty, probably intentionally so.
—Lev Grossman, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spotty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spotty
Adjective
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The study made a significant contribution, if not clarification, to this academic niche — medieval migration wasn’t seasonal, nor sporadic and intense.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Jan. 2026
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Trying to keep up with tariff news, especially as a consumer who isn't necessarily an expert in economic policy, can feel like dodging sporadic jump scares.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Most of the back is covered in a dotted texture imprinted directly into the plastic.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
7 Nov. 2025
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In fact, each has proven to be a false alarm, as slowdowns in momentum have consistently led to new buying opportunities (as indicated by the blue, dotted vertical lines).—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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These include electric vehicles with extended driving ranges, large-scale renewable energy storage systems that can balance intermittent solar and wind power, and lightweight, flexible power sources for portable and wearable electronics.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
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Countries also need to work on better connecting intermittent renewables — those which work only when the sun shines or the wind blows — with batteries that can store their energy.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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During this time, monarchs cluster together in packed colonies for warmth—in a good year, thousands of monarchs might rest on a single tree, creating a kaleidoscope of brilliantly colored wings.—
Chelsee Lowe,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Nov. 2025
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Remember, a hard freeze will still damage them, turning them mushy and off-colored.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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So Fernandez ended up scoring two goals and incessantly bothering the Charlotte FC players with his ball skills and occasional extracurricular activity.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Nov. 2025
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As a durable and washable rug brand, Ruggable is one of our favorite destinations for outdoor rugs, kids rugs, and even the occasional doormat or entryway piece.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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These large waves can be erratic and unpredictable.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
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The addiction eventually took its toll, and Chase became more erratic and difficult to work with.—
Gillian Telling,
PEOPLE,
30 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spotty. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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