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
That launched earlier this month and is off to a strong start, even with spotty insurance coverage.
—
Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Others lounge on spotty lawns near overflowing trash cans.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
The information can be spotty, interrupted by cloud cover and limited daylight.
—Lara Williams, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026
Wilson’s frustrations are compounded by Advent’s spotty record in the consumer space, the people say ; another Advent name, the haircare brand Olaplex, has seen its stock collapse since its 2022 IPO.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spotty
Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Others lounge on spotty lawns near overflowing trash cans.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
The information can be spotty, interrupted by cloud cover and limited daylight.
—Lara Williams, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026
Wilson’s frustrations are compounded by Advent’s spotty record in the consumer space, the people say ; another Advent name, the haircare brand Olaplex, has seen its stock collapse since its 2022 IPO.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spotty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spotty
Adjective
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During Galliano’s tenure, Maison Margiela shows were sporadic.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
10 Feb. 2026
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However, sporadic light supplementation means that adjusting fertilizer use is sensible if plant growth slows.—
Gemma Johnstone,
The Spruce,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Sure, that might help convince Donovan Mitchell to sign on the dotted line when a contract extension gets placed in front of him.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
6 Feb. 2026
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And eventually, the Greek forward signed on the dotted line to remain in Milwaukee.—
Eric Nehm,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
How the Study Worked In the study, 72 inactive adults with panic disorder who weren’t taking medications as treatment completed a 12-week program of brief intermittent intense exercise or relaxation training.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
11 Feb. 2026
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Due to its durability and rapid response time, the team expects the technology to be used to stabilize power grids and manage the intermittent output of renewable energy sources.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Small balconies glance upon the terracotta-and-lemon-colored canal homes, a picturesque way to start each day with a little caffè.—
Elly Leavitt,
Vogue,
9 Feb. 2026
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The Seahawks are now the third team in a row to win the Super Bowl in colored jerseys.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Scam centers proliferating as criminal gangs flout laws In Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, a failure to consistently enforce laws against human trafficking, labor abuses and criminal activities have allowed cyber-scam centers to flourish despite occasional crackdowns, the report noted.—
Elaine Kurtenbach,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
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While occasional scooting can happen, recurring episodes usually signal an underlying issue with anal glands.—
Kasey Caminiti,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Cut Buddy's tariff bills became erratic and exorbitant.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
9 Feb. 2026
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Using Color to Stir Emotion Much of Brontë's original text is unsettling, with the reader never quite knowing what our erratic characters will do next and what will be the consequences of their actions.—
Maddie Topliff,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spotty. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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