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spottiness

spottiness

5.8
An uneven quality or appearance with spots and weak parts
  • noun
  • /ˈspɑːtɪnəs/
translation icon : manchitas
  • The spottiness of the paint on the wall made it look uneven and poorly done.

Examples

  • No definitive tests were undertaken during the break-in stage or during the testing; thus, one can only conclude that the bristles wore significantly, and the rotor coating showed little evidence of tracking other than being highly polished with some spottiness.

    Academic text (1998)
  • The gardener was concerned about the spottiness of the leaves on the plants, indicating a possible disease.

  • We noticed the spottiness of her skin after she spent too much time in the sun without protection.

Synonyms

blotchiness
vsspottiness
1 6.2

Uneven patches on skin or cloth

is used more widely for uneven appearance or inconsistent quality
spottedness
vsspottiness
8.1

A surface with many small round marks like on fur or skin

is broader, also covering uneven appearance or variable quality
mottle
vsspottiness
7.9

An uneven pattern of spots or patches of different colors

refers to general spotting or uneven appearance without color pattern detail
patchiness
vsspottiness
7.1

Uneven quality or performance across different parts

also includes the visual condition of being covered with spots

Antonyms

uniformity
  • Specialized
18 4.6

The state of being the same in all parts

1 2.6

How something works without pauses or problems

How Spotted

mottling
1 6.9
spottiness
5.8

Surface Forms

spottiness singular
spottinesses plural

Morphology

spottiness = spotty (transparent) = spot + y + ness

Formed by 'spot' -> 'spotty' (adjective) + '-ness' to indicate the state or quality; the meaning is directly predictable.

Etymology

Spottiness comes from the simple word spot, meaning 'a small mark', plus the ending -ness, meaning 'the state or quality'. So spottiness is the state of being covered in spots or of being uneven in quality, like a paint job with patches or a team with mixed results.