WordValesporadic
occurring at irregular intervals
In more detail
happening or found at irregular intervals; not continuous or regular
Examples
- The internet connection has been sporadic since the storm damaged the lines.
How to use sporadic
Sporadic describes events or occurrences that happen unpredictably and unevenly over time, without a clear pattern. It is commonly used in news, medical, and scientific contexts to describe disease outbreaks, violence, or weather patterns. Unlike 'occasional' which may suggest something that happens from time to time in a somewhat predictable way, sporadic implies more randomness and unpredictability.
Common phrases
- sporadic violence
- sporadic incidents
- sporadic rain
- sporadic outbreaks
- sporadic attacks
Synonyms
intermittent · occasional · irregular · scattered · infrequent
Opposites
constant · regular · continuous
Word family
sporadically (adverb) · sporadicity (noun, rare)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use sporadic to mean rare or infrequent in general, but the key element is irregularity and lack of pattern rather than mere infrequency; something can be sporadic yet fairly common overall if it occurs unpredictably.
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