spotty

adjective

ˈspä-tē How to pronounce spotty (audio)
Definition of spottynext
1
as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence only spotty business failures marred the economic boom

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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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of spotty But an incentive is not a guardrail, and voluntary output pledges have a spotty track record. — Andrew McGowan, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026 Polling in the 2022 midterms was more spotty than spectacular. — W. Joseph Campbell, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026 His refusal to not spotlight the spotty attendance exacerbated already-brewing tensions between him and the new management. — Michele Metych Britannica Editors Sep. 21, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Sep. 2026 Any leftover spotty shower threat is fading quickly, and the afternoon and evening look dry. — Kate Bilo, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spotty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spotty
  1. sporadic
  2. dotted
  3. intermittent
  4. colored
  5. occasional
  6. erratic
Adjective
  • Only some regional operators have continued sporadic services, generally using smaller feeder vessels.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
  • That said, devolving tropical storms can pack a punch with sporadic gusts and showers as the energy that was formerly bundled in the storm’s center releases outward.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of sporadic
Adjective
  • Visual cues are both stripped down and strangely compelling, like the dotted line that runs from Nancy’s eyes to indicate her gaze.
    — Air Mail, Air Mail, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Peghah Maleknejad, fashion director of Hero and Heroine Magazine, bought the dotted mesh long dress for $359 on her phone while waiting for the Alainpaul show to start.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of dotted
Adjective
  • Ohtani has been playing with a bad knee and biceps for three months, and the Dodgers already have tried intermittent rest.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The amount of daylight, cool temperatures, and intermittent rain in autumn mimic what happens in spring when the peepers actively court and mate.
    — Sheryl DeVore, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of intermittent
Adjective
  • Vivier’s signature buckle can be rendered in gold or silver, with colored brass available on select styles.
    — Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Its cyan-colored vehicles will compete with Ubers, Lyfts and autonomous taxis to shuttle customers across busy streets and freeways.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of colored
Adjective
  • With the Patriots and Bills accounting for four games on the schedule, the Jets can’t keep treating divisional victories as occasional breakthroughs.
    — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
  • For most of human history, our Sun’s occasional tantrums have been of little concern to those of us living on Earth’s surface.
    — Mike McRae October 15, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of occasional
Adjective
  • Has little people skills, lacks self-awareness and can sometimes exhibit erratic behavior.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Anthropic’s Dario Amodei and xAI’s Elon Musk scrawled their names in erratic cursive.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of erratic

Browse Nearby Words

spotting
spotty
spousal
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Cite this Entry

“Spotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spotty. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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