spottier; spottiest
2
: lacking uniformity especially in quality
the performance was spotty
also
: irregularly or sparsely distributed
spotty attendance
spotty data
Synonyms
Examples of spotty in a Sentence
Her work has been spotty.
The service at that restaurant is a little spotty.
students with spotty attendance records
Recent Examples on the Web
In practice, though, information on insurers’ denial rates is still spotty and largely unavailable to the public, and, according to a KFF study of prior authorization requests under Medicare Advantage plans, nine in ten of the people who are denied coverage don’t appeal.
—
John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
But that enforcement has been spotty at times, and one investigation found that 87% of major universities were out of compliance.
—Joel Mathis, theweek, 29 Nov. 2024
Sciortino has a spotty record with the Police Department, including three substantiated civilian complaints for pointing a gun and improperly entering and searching a premises back in October 2021.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 27 Nov. 2024
Disease begins with an influenza-like illness including a high fever, weakness, sore throat, headache, body aches and sometimes a spotty red rash.
—Mark Kortepeter, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spotty 
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John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
But that enforcement has been spotty at times, and one investigation found that 87% of major universities were out of compliance.
—Joel Mathis, theweek, 29 Nov. 2024
Sciortino has a spotty record with the Police Department, including three substantiated civilian complaints for pointing a gun and improperly entering and searching a premises back in October 2021.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 27 Nov. 2024
Disease begins with an influenza-like illness including a high fever, weakness, sore throat, headache, body aches and sometimes a spotty red rash.
—Mark Kortepeter, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spotty
Dictionary Entries Near spotty
Cite this Entry
“Spotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spotty. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spotty
adjective
spot·ty
ˈspät-ē 
spottier; spottiest
1
: having spots
2
: not always the same especially in quality
your work has been spotty
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