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
Back to Wells Fargo, investor sentiment weakened following two consecutive spotty quarters.
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Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
Subway cars erupted in cheers as fans peeped the winning shot on their cellphones, their feeds interrupted at times by spotty underground reception.
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ABC News,
13 June 2026
Morrissey has rarely played stateside festivals amid a spotty track record of canceling or postponing some 200 headlining appearances in the past decade-plus.
—
Spin Staff,
SPIN,
10 June 2026
Due to extremely spotty cell service, an emergency SOS beacon, like those made by Garmin, is also key.
—
Robert Annis,
Midwest Living,
7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for spotty
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
Subway cars erupted in cheers as fans peeped the winning shot on their cellphones, their feeds interrupted at times by spotty underground reception.
—
ABC News,
13 June 2026
Morrissey has rarely played stateside festivals amid a spotty track record of canceling or postponing some 200 headlining appearances in the past decade-plus.
—
Spin Staff,
SPIN,
10 June 2026
Due to extremely spotty cell service, an emergency SOS beacon, like those made by Garmin, is also key.
—
Robert Annis,
Midwest Living,
7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for spotty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spotty
Adjective
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Utility Iren was doubling workers' shifts and adding generators to address sporadic power cuts in Turin as the electricity grid came under strain, a spokesperson said.
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While attractive due to its proximity to strong local and regional gas markets, exploration for this gas has been sporadic in the basin since the mid-1980s, with experts noting pilot projects were uneconomic, temporarily abandoned or failed.
Adjective
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So if the Heat money is there – with or without Giannis Antetokounmpo – Norm signs on the dotted line.
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Mercury’s clash with Neptune begs you to hold off on signing on the dotted line.
Adjective
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After just under two hours of intermittent rain, the tarp came out and the game was suspended.
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The president and his advisers have repeatedly criticized offshore wind as intermittent, unreliable and unsightly.
Adjective
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Enjoy caramel-colored foliage in spring and fall and pink blooms throughout summer that attract pollinators.
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Squeezits No '90s lunch box felt complete without a brightly colored bottle of Squeezits.
Adjective
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Steward said the church has around 50 members, although many others in the area stop by for the occasional service.
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South winds increase to 15-25 mph with occasional gusts over 30 mph.
Adjective
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Weather officials say erratic winds have been sending smoke to different parts of the region this weekend.
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That, of course, was shown at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where the Jabulani grabbed headlines for its erratic and unpredictable movement — so much so that there’s a Wikipedia page dedicated to its criticisms.
Cite this Entry
“Spotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spotty. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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