1
as in recurrent
occurring or appearing at intervals
intermittent showers had me opening and closing my umbrella all day long
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence
the breadwinner's intermittent employment put the family in a difficult position financially
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of intermittent
The road has been long and hard, and at intermittent points, life in the Old Trafford bubble turned him into a figure of fun.
—
Phil Hay, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Instead, precipitation arriving as rain – along with intermittent midwinter melting events – increased the runoff.
—Imtiaz Rangwala, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
The matching restrictions do limit the ability of companies to claim to use carbon-free electricity 24/7 by using intermittent wind and solar power.
—Arik Levinson, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
Social network Bluesky saw some intermittent service disruptions on Monday.
—ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for intermittent
Phil Hay, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Instead, precipitation arriving as rain – along with intermittent midwinter melting events – increased the runoff.
—Imtiaz Rangwala, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
The matching restrictions do limit the ability of companies to claim to use carbon-free electricity 24/7 by using intermittent wind and solar power.
—Arik Levinson, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
Social network Bluesky saw some intermittent service disruptions on Monday.
—ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for intermittent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intermittent
Adjective
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Transitions between the two parents (and selves, and lives) are widely considered one of the toughest aspects of divorce for a child—sites of recurrent loss and awkward morphing.—
Jean Garnett,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
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Opponents of the Iranian dictatorship decry negotiation with a regime that has killed tens of thousands of its own people in recurrent waves of recent protests.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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After a sporadic and drawn-out campaign of vague teasers for a new album called Iceman, the rarely understated rapper unveiled a stack of frozen bricks at 81 Bond Street yesterday (April 20), promising that the release date is hidden inside.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
21 Apr. 2026
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There are also sporadic blooms throughout the summer months.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Bell Street Bridge encampment was prioritized for closure as part of Downtown Rising – the first phase of Atlanta Rising, a multi-year campaign launched in 2025 to end unsheltered homelessness citywide and make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring.—
Emily McLeod,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
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This was and is a non-recurring, cyclical business totally dependent on transaction volumes, which fluctuate with economic cycles and interest rates.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Shopping, dining, and entertainment are on tap at the village-like Shops at Kukuiʻula, where residents will find boutiques with upscale global brands as well as island designers, fine dining restaurants and casual eateries, weekly farmers markets, and occasional live music.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
23 Apr. 2026
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All that tinkering did not yield clean sheets; nor did the occasional switches to a back five, against Arsenal in the League Cup, Wrexham in the FA Cup and at Brighton in the league.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Taking periodic breaks — for example, a few nights off each week — may help reduce the likelihood of mild tolerance build up.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
16 Apr. 2026
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There isn't a lot of research on the health effects of periodic use, though other studies show weight regain after stopping GLP-1s is faster compared to other diets that focus on behavior changes.—
Yuki Noguchi,
NPR,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The sudden departure comes just a day after Phelan addressed a large crowd of sailors and industry professionals at the Navy’s annual conference in Washington, and spoke with reporters about his agenda.—
Konstantin Toropin,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
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Now, however, a study published today in Nature is challenging this sedate view, suggesting instead that the solar system’s first solids stormed into being much faster from sudden temperature shifts in the disk’s turbulent maelstrom.—
Javier Barbuzano,
Scientific American,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Intermittent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intermittent. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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