spotty
spotty — adjective
- spottypositive
- spottiercomparative
- spottiestsuperlative
1. relating to a face or other area of skin that has many small raised marks, often
relating to a face or other area of skin that has many small raised marks, often caused by a condition like teenage acne
Diego's face was spotty during his teenage years, but his skin cleared up later.
predicative: face + was + spotty
Putri bought a special cream to treat her spotty skin before the wedding.
attributive: spotty skin
Joshua felt embarrassed about his spotty forehead and wore a cap to cover it.
Camille tried several face washes to get rid of her spotty skin before prom night.
The doctor gave Vivek a cream that cleared his spotty cheeks in a few weeks.
文法句型
does not take comparative forms with acne meaning
用法筆記
Usually associated with adolescence and hormonal changes, but can describe any breakout on the skin.
常見錯誤
2. varying in standard so that some parts or moments are fine while others are very
varying in standard so that some parts or moments are fine while others are very poor, leaving an unpredictable overall result
The hotel internet was spotty, so Tariq could not finish his video call.
predicative: internet + was + spotty
Noa's attendance at practice has been spotty this month, missing almost every other session.
attributive: spotty attendance
Jiwoo's spotty memory of the crash meant she could not describe it clearly.
Liam's smartphone reception is spotty in the subway, so calls keep dropping.
Zuri complained about the spotty room service — meals arrived late three nights in a row.
- patchy
very close in meaning; suggests visible gaps, often used in British English
- uneven
emphasises imbalance or lack of uniformity across different parts
- inconsistent
more formal; focuses on the lack of reliability over time
- consistent
always the same good standard
- reliable
can be trusted to perform steadily
文法句型
usually describes service, performance, record, or memory
用法筆記
Frequently describes technology services, performance records, and personal habits like attendance or punctuality. Can imply frustration or disappointment about the lack of reliability.
常見錯誤
3. having a pattern of small round marks or patches of colour that contrast with th
having a pattern of small round marks or patches of colour that contrast with the background colour of a surface
Eshe wore a spotty dress with small white dots on a blue background.
attributive: spotty dress
The cat's spotty coat made it look like a tiny leopard running through the garden.
Shirin painted a spotty pattern on the wall using a sponge and three different colours.
Andrew bought a spotty tie with tiny red circles to match his new blazer.
Greta adopted a dog with a spotty coat of black and white patches.
文法句型
often describes patterns on animals, fabric, or painted surfaces
用法筆記
Commonly describes the appearance of animals (cats, dogs, birds), fabrics, and decorative items. For animals, it is often used interchangeably with 'spotted', though 'spotted' is more common in scientific or precise contexts.