sporadically
adverb
spo·rad·i·cal·ly
spə-ˈra-di-k(ə-)lē 
: in a sporadic manner : not regularly or constantly
gunfire being heard sporadically
software updates that appear sporadically
Originally from the western Pacific Ocean, the shrimp have been spotted sporadically in U.S. waters for the past two decades.—
Rick Jervis
Rick JervisEven when the sun is being well behaved, parcels of plasma shoot sporadically toward Earth's dark side, prompting a bright aurora and intensifying radiation belts.—Tim Beardsley
Tim BeardsleyExamples of sporadically in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Everyone’s blood sugar levels sporadically spike, and that’s normal, but keeping it steady helps prevent energy crashes, hunger pangs, and mood swings, Dardarian says.
—Julia Ries Wexler, Outside, 4 Feb. 2026
After all, Tom takes off right after Alice suggests the two settle down in New Jersey, where she’s just been offered a job at Princeton, rather than sporadically meet up in exotic locales when their schedules allow.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 1 Feb. 2026
Conditions may peak sporadically before slowly dying down later in the evening, so checking the sky more than once — especially within areas with little to no light pollution — could pay off.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
State programs aimed at helping communities pay for protections against predators such as installing improved fencing or training in nonlethal methods of controlling them have only been funded sporadically.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sporadically
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Julia Ries Wexler, Outside, 4 Feb. 2026
After all, Tom takes off right after Alice suggests the two settle down in New Jersey, where she’s just been offered a job at Princeton, rather than sporadically meet up in exotic locales when their schedules allow.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 1 Feb. 2026
Conditions may peak sporadically before slowly dying down later in the evening, so checking the sky more than once — especially within areas with little to no light pollution — could pay off.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
State programs aimed at helping communities pay for protections against predators such as installing improved fencing or training in nonlethal methods of controlling them have only been funded sporadically.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sporadically
Cite this Entry
“Sporadically.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sporadically. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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