discontinuous

adjective

ˌdis-kən-ˈtin-yə-wəs How to pronounce discontinuous (audio)
Definition of discontinuousnext
as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence the novel captures the discontinuous nature of a soldier's life: long stretches of boredom interrupted by flashes of action

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of discontinuous Each take has this in and out that sounds discontinuous. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2025 When reinforced with discontinuous fibers, vitrimers, a class of plastic, can be reshaped repeatedly, crushed, and molded into new forms many times without their chemical structure degrading. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2025 Increased spotting potential east of the PCT exists, however, these spots have low potential for spread due to sparse, discontinuous vegetation or they can be accessed and suppressed by firefighting resources. — Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 July 2025 But the fact that Flights is a novel seems somehow more true-to-life in the way that our lives, yours and mine, are discontinuous, fragmented, full of returns and departures, progress and regression. — Literary Hub, 16 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for discontinuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discontinuous
  1. sporadic
  2. intermittent
  3. occasional
  4. sudden
  5. irregular
Adjective
  • Virginia had a few sporadic measles cases at the start of 2026, related to international travel or travel to areas of the US with an outbreak.
    — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
  • Many private market investments such as private equity, private credit and select infrastructure investments are structured to have longer lockup periods, experience sporadic capital calls and provide limited opportunities for redemption.
    — Jeffrey Bartel, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of sporadic
Adjective
  • Repairs to the deck of the Sutter Slough Bridge on South River Road and Sutter Slough Bridge Road will cause intermittent lane closures in both directions next week, according to a Yolo County news release.
    — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2026
  • But aren’t those intermittent slip-ups better than more of the same?
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 23 July 2026
Definition of intermittent
Adjective
  • Artificial intelligence, continual technological advances, evolving workforce expectations, economic uncertainty and increasing complexity have transformed change from an occasional event into the operating environment.
    — Tony Gambill, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Researchers plan to test whether shorter, occasional naps have different effects on the brain over time compared with longer, more frequent ones.
    — Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2026
Definition of occasional
Adjective
  • In the meantime, if the sudden onset of the midsummer sports doldrums is anything to go by, the next World Cup can’t get here soon enough.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 24 July 2026
  • The sudden sight of a dish so delicious — or grotesque — the body briefly forgets its need for oxygen.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 24 July 2026
Definition of sudden
Adjective
  • Early perimenopause typically brings irregular periods that arrive at least a week late or early, lighter or heavier flow, and hot flashes in roughly 40% of women.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026
  • Early perimenopause often brings irregular periods, lighter or heavier flow and hot flashes in about 40% of women.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 July 2026
Definition of irregular

Browse Nearby Words

discontinuity
discontinuous
discontinuously
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Cite this Entry

“Discontinuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discontinuous. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on discontinuous

Nglish: Translation of discontinuous for Spanish Speakers

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