EN

Synonyms for spotty

  • adjective

Most common

patched blotchy blotched inconsistent uneven iffy

Synonyms by meaning

Adjective

1. Spotted

spotted, blotchy, blotched, dotted, patched

2. Inconsistent — inconsistent, not reliably good, sometimes bad

inconsistent, uneven, scratchy

3. Iffy — of inconsistent quality

iffy, shoddy

Definitions

  1. adj. 1

    Of inconsistent quality.

    Near-synonyms: shoddy, iffy

  2. adj. 2

    Inconsistent: not reliably good, sometimes bad.

    Near-synonyms: shoddy, iffy

  3. adj. 3

    Having spots; spotted.

Related words

Word family
spottiness

Example sentences

  • patched The roof has been patched up many times over the years.
  • inconsistent Nursery rhymes are deliberately inconsistent texts.
  • uneven It's good for your back to walk on uneven ground.
  • iffy That seems iffy. That doesn’t seem aboveboard.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
spottyfalling
patchedrising
blotchyrising
blotchedsteady
inconsistentsteady
unevensteady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters
iffy2
6 letters
uneven3, dotted2, shoddy2
7 letters
spotted2, patched1, blotchy2
8 letters
scratchy2, blotched1
12 letters
inconsistent4

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (iffy2 = 2 syllables).