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
His tackling can be spotty and he’s been battling injuries throughout the pre-draft process.
—
Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
This can result in spotty memories of events that occurred while drinking, or complete amnesia that might span hours.
—Eric Wood, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Elvis, for one, was seen by many in the years following his death, with a newspaper report of a sighting in Kalamazoo at least as reliable as the spotty accounts shared by fervent believers two millennia ago.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025
Kaegi’s changes face some hurdles outside his control, including spotty cooperation from local governments and a tight taxing schedule that can delay fixes by months.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spotty
Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
This can result in spotty memories of events that occurred while drinking, or complete amnesia that might span hours.
—Eric Wood, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Elvis, for one, was seen by many in the years following his death, with a newspaper report of a sighting in Kalamazoo at least as reliable as the spotty accounts shared by fervent believers two millennia ago.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025
Kaegi’s changes face some hurdles outside his control, including spotty cooperation from local governments and a tight taxing schedule that can delay fixes by months.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spotty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spotty
Adjective
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But the absence of The Rock—the catalyst of this entire turn—throughout the entire build of WrestleMania, mixed with the sporadic appearances from Cena, hurt the storytelling of what could have been a deeply complex villain.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
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Justin Turner has been among those helping Workman navigate his first experience with life in the big leagues and sporadic playing time.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Based on the research, participants lost about 7 to 11 pounds over 10 weeks while intermittent fasting.18 Remember, fad diets are not healthy for you, especially long term.—
Sohaib Imtiaz,
Verywell Health,
23 Apr. 2025
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The pair are searching for the source of a particular beep: the intermittent ping that a smoke alarm makes when its battery is running low.—
Kirk Johnson,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The house that the Americans strategically position themselves in is home to two families; there are occasional insert shots of family photos and trinkets, and at several points these families are shown cowering, terrified by what’s happening around them.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
17 Apr. 2025
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Burnout goes beyond the occasional tough day at work.—
Jack Kelly,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The cuts would devastate weather and climate research as weather is becoming more erratic, extreme and costly.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2025
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Wall Street has been in an erratic yo-yo pattern since Donald Trump announced, held off, implemented, augmented, and paused worldwide tariffs.—
Lieke ten Brummelhuis,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spotty. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
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