spotty
Uneven in quality
Spotty describes something marked with spots or patches: a spotty complexion, a spotty dog.
More commonly, spotty means inconsistent or uneven in quality—good in some areas, lacking in others: The service at that restaurant is spotty, Her attendance has been spotty this semester.
British English uses spotty more literally for skin with pimples.
Lacking regularity or consistency
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- variableProne to fluctuation
- unevenNot smooth or balanced
- sporadicOccurring irregularly, infrequently
intermittent · fluctuating · patchy · hit-or-miss · haphazard · irregular · scattered · fitful
Inflamed skin condition
- pimplesSmall inflammatory skin lesions
- zitsSlang for blemishes
- breakoutsSudden emergences or eruptions
- blemishesVisible surface flaws
pimpled · oily · complexion · redness · inflamed · pustules · blackheads · scarred
Marked with small points
- dappledMarked with spots
- fleckedSpotted with small marks
- freckledHaving small pigmented spots
- stippledMarked with small dots
blotchy · pied · piebald · polka-dot · brindled · variegated · marbled · spattered
Cultivated variety of animal
- firehouseEmergency responders' headquarters
- spotsDetects or marks
- DisneyMajor entertainment conglomerate
- mascotGroup's symbolic figure
black-and-white · puppy · distinctive · pedigree · dalmatian
erratic
Lacking regularity or consistency
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- variableProne to fluctuation
- unevenNot smooth or balanced
sporadic · intermittent · fluctuating · patchy · hit-or-miss · haphazard · irregular · scattered · fitful · unreliable
acne
Inflamed skin condition
- pimplesSmall inflammatory skin lesions
- zitsSlang for blemishes
- breakoutsSudden emergences or eruptions
blemishes · pimpled · oily · complexion · redness · inflamed · pustules · blackheads · scarred · blotchy
dotted
Marked with small points
stippled · blotchy · pied · piebald · polka-dot · brindled · variegated · marbled · spattered · splattered
breed
Cultivated variety of animal
- firehouseEmergency responders' headquarters
- spotsDetects or marks
- DisneyMajor entertainment conglomerate
mascot · black-and-white · puppy · distinctive · pedigree · dalmatian
wrasse
Thick-lipped marine fish
- parrotfishBeak-jawed coral-eating fish
- hogfishSnout-faced tropical wrasse
- señoritaSpanish honorific for unmarried women
- acneacne, pimple, pimples, zit, zits
- incompleteincomplete, unfinished, partial, fragmentary, half-done
- Inconsistencywishy-washy, flip-flop, fickle, unreliable, unpredictable
- unpredictableunpredictable, uncertain, unreliable, erratic, inconsistent
- memoryremember, forget, recall, memorize, recollect
- visionsharp, eye, visual perception, sight, eyes
spottyconsistent
Not varying or contradicting
steady · reliable · constant · dependable · uniform
spottyplain
Basic and unremarkable
solid · uniform · unmarked · unspotted · unpatterned
spottythorough
Complete in every detail
comprehensive · complete · consistent · uniform · full
- on the spotImmediately, without preparation
- soft spotEmotional vulnerability or fondness
- parking spotDesignated vehicle space
- hit the spotMeet a need perfectly
- weak spotVulnerability to exploit
- tight spotDifficult position, few options
spot, spotted, spotting, spottily, spottier, spottiness, spottiest, unspotted