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
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Recent Examples of spotty
Those outings against the New York teams showed plenty of upside still exists and the spotty regular season numbers could be a byproduct of rust from not pitching since June 10, 2022 when the elbow pain started.
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Larry Fleisher, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024
That includes spotty Wi-Fi connections impacting electronic poll books used to check voters in more efficiently, imprecise calibration on voting machine touchscreens, and ballot scanners that are down.
—Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 5 Nov. 2024
After spotty start, Nix has completed 9 of his last 10 passes.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2024
The president-elect has been searching for a Treasury secretary who would embrace tariffs but also calm financial markets, where enthusiasm for higher tariffs is spotty.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spotty 
Larry Fleisher, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024
That includes spotty Wi-Fi connections impacting electronic poll books used to check voters in more efficiently, imprecise calibration on voting machine touchscreens, and ballot scanners that are down.
—Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 5 Nov. 2024
After spotty start, Nix has completed 9 of his last 10 passes.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2024
The president-elect has been searching for a Treasury secretary who would embrace tariffs but also calm financial markets, where enthusiasm for higher tariffs is spotty.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spotty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spotty
Adjective
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The friends exchanged sporadic texts over subsequent months but never saw each other in person after that.Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
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Such an approach to celebration helps create a sustainable culture where innovation thrives continuously rather than in sporadic bursts.Alain Hunkins, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Hegseth and his supporters have defended his resume, which includes degrees from Princeton and Harvard and intermittent service over 20 years in the Army National Guard, which included tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, achieving the rank of major, and advocating for veterans.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
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Like other parts of the home, toilets need intermittent repairs, especially to their valves, gaskets, and flanges—not to mention the occasional toilet unclogging.Rabekah Henderson, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Steinem has long-term plans to make her home a place where women can gather for discussion and occasional refuge.Sarah Medford, Architectural Digest, 12 Dec. 2024
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Whatever your choice, preparation and recovery are key to maintaining healthy skin while enjoying occasional drinks (or not), Dr. Kohli concludes.Sanjana Ray, Glamour, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Ana Navarro and Whoopi Goldberg clashed on The View over their opposing perspectives about how to take on Donald Trump‘s erratic policies ahead of his inauguration in January amid the holidays.Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 9 Dec. 2024
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Whitfield was acting erratic and running naked around his parents' home when officers arrived.Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near spotty
Cite this Entry
“Spotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spotty. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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