patchy-quiet
adjectiveUK /ˈpætʃi ˈkwaɪət/
US /ˈpætʃi ˈkwaɪət/
Sometimes quiet and sometimes not, with quiet spots here and there.
The library was patchy-quiet, with whispers in one corner and silence in another.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A place that has small areas of calm between noisy parts.
The playground was patchy-quiet after the bell rang.
3. A sound that stops and starts, never fully silent.
The radio was patchy-quiet during the storm.
4. A mood that is calm only in short moments.
His patchy-quiet mood made the room feel strange.