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
Housing & Homelessness Mold, plumbing problems persist at South L.A. apartment complex as city pledges action
May 25, 2022
Prior attempts at accountability for Nijjar and his companies have been spotty and ineffective.
—
Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
Even after moving to the U.S., Han spent summers in a tiny Tuscan village — a place with no Wi-Fi, spotty cell service and only Italian television.
—Jordan Greene, People.com, 10 June 2025
Football wage information is often spotty, but the Cottagers payroll ranked 14th in the league.
—Brett Koremenos, New York Times, 9 June 2025
The pattern in recent weeks has favored mostly dry conditions, with only spotty thunderstorm activity, Longley explained.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for spotty
Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
Even after moving to the U.S., Han spent summers in a tiny Tuscan village — a place with no Wi-Fi, spotty cell service and only Italian television.
—Jordan Greene, People.com, 10 June 2025
Football wage information is often spotty, but the Cottagers payroll ranked 14th in the league.
—Brett Koremenos, New York Times, 9 June 2025
The pattern in recent weeks has favored mostly dry conditions, with only spotty thunderstorm activity, Longley explained.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for spotty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spotty
Adjective
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Iran needs nuclear energy to meet the demands of its growing population; sporadic blackouts are already commonplace.—
Robin Wright,
New Yorker,
16 June 2025
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It’s sparked protests, vandalism and sporadic clashes with police that prompted President Trump to send military troops to downtown L.A., sparking questions over state rights.—
Libor Jany,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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That amounts to success through delay—a repeatable outcome, sustained through intermittent precision attacks.—
David A. Deptula,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
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Despite the relentless pre-match hype montages, intermittent deluges of FIFA self-congratulation and the blasting of Robbie Williams’ hilariously self-parodic tournament theme song at half-time.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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Colorado and Arizona State offer little more than an occasional flash.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
28 June 2025
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Allegedly set between Episode III and IV, with some occasional flashback episodes, the series would delve into aspects of the Star Wars universe that hadn't been explored before, such as different criminal factions operating across Coruscant.—
Daryl Baxter,
Space.com,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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Trump’s erratic approach to trade is converging with other economic and technological policies to undermine the United States’ preeminent role.—
REBECCA LISSNER,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
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The fact that the story works at all despite its bizarre tonal shifts and erratic pacing is a testament to how strong the game’s themes and characterization truly are.—
Hayes Madsen,
Rolling Stone,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spotty. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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