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

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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
  • States routinely review the accuracy of their voter rolls and sporadic cases of noncitizen voting are investigated and prosecuted.
    — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 17 July 2026
  • His impact last season was more sporadic than steady, however, which is not uncommon for a first-year starter learning on the fly.
    — Dane Brugler, New York Times, 16 July 2026
Definition of sporadic
Adjective
  • Solar energy is naturally intermittent, meaning production peaks in the middle of the day when electricity demand is often relatively low, only to drop off in the evening just as families return home and usage spikes.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 July 2026
  • At the time, logic dictated the culprit to be malaria because the couple had shown symptoms of the illness, including a telltale intermittent fever.
    — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 15 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
  • The film centers on Prabha, a troubled young man whose sudden and unexplained death triggers a ripple effect across his extended family and community.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 July 2026
  • Cyclosporiasis symptoms include sudden, watery and occasionally explosive diarrhea—these symptoms usually appear between two days and two weeks after ingesting the parasite.
    — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 17 July 2026
Definition of sudden
Adjective
  • This condition, present in up to one in eight premenopausal women, is associated multiple systemic issues, including irregular periods, ovarian cysts and infertility.
    — Nina Shapiro, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • The more modern versions alternate rough branches and irregular shapes with classic designs, transforming coral into a warm accent that immediately evokes the Mediterranean, Southern Italy, and summers spent by rocky shores and crystal-clear seas.
    — Selene Oliva, Glamour, 18 July 2026
Definition of irregular

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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 24 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on discontinuous

Nglish: Translation of discontinuous for Spanish Speakers

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