1
as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence
the weekend forecast is for occasional showers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in odd
not often occurring or repeated
an occasional mechanical problem with our car, but nothing serious
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of occasional
A day that started all warm and quiet and cozy has now spiraled into screams of heresy and hearsay punctuated by occasional wrestling matches on the carpet.
—
Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Nov. 2025
Exiting the bond hearing, a somber Badolato did not answer questions from reporters but Billy earlier acknowledged that Bannon was an occasional visitor to the home.
—Kevin G. Hall, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Worried about cash flow, Lonsdale started tracking all food spending this year — both at stores and the occasional trip to Taco Bell.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
From that point on, the transcript reads like a slow-motion countdown, with Zane providing occasional updates on how many drinks remained.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for occasional
Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Nov. 2025
Exiting the bond hearing, a somber Badolato did not answer questions from reporters but Billy earlier acknowledged that Bannon was an occasional visitor to the home.
—Kevin G. Hall, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Worried about cash flow, Lonsdale started tracking all food spending this year — both at stores and the occasional trip to Taco Bell.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
From that point on, the transcript reads like a slow-motion countdown, with Zane providing occasional updates on how many drinks remained.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for occasional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occasional
Adjective
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Because, well, our relationship was always so sporadic.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
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Despite sporadic staff shortages at air traffic control facilities across the country since the shutdown began, flight operations have been largely normal.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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While Iguaran was waiting for relatives to send more cash, and earning small amounts of money working odd jobs, the men who operate the fishing boats transporting migrants to Colombia cut him a break.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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That case should get started in late November, with Zwerner placed in the odd position — in terms of personal financial gain — of seeking Parker’s acquittal.—
Gary Grumbach,
NBC news,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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These include electric vehicles with extended driving ranges, large-scale renewable energy storage systems that can balance intermittent solar and wind power, and lightweight, flexible power sources for portable and wearable electronics.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
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Countries also need to work on better connecting intermittent renewables — those which work only when the sun shines or the wind blows — with batteries that can store their energy.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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During High Point Market in October, designers stole a rare break from the windowless-showroom grind.—
Catherine Hong,
Architectural Digest,
6 Nov. 2025
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And labor scholar Hamilton Nolan reminds us to breathe, and take the (rare) win.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 Nov. 2025
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Excluding disasters, sudden surges of this magnitude in requests for food or any other need are rare at 211s, and can signal both public worry and need, as happened in the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Matthew W. Kreuter,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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These are not isolated outcomes, but structural ones.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
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However, isolated locations could pick up a quick 1 to 2 inches.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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This translation by Nancy Naomi Carlson preserves the rich musicality of the original French, as well as its frequent use of wordplay and often unusual word choice.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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Ostrich Leather Recognizable by its distinctive quill pattern and supple texture, ostrich leather combines durability with an unusual kind of beauty.—
Cortne Bonilla,
Vogue,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In 2024, Vogue revived an infrequent online cooking segment under a new title, Now Serving.—
Yahya Salem,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
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But the truth of the matter is that voters, and especially those who are new and infrequent participants in the political process, are as driven by events and circumstances as anything else.—
Jamelle Bouie,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Occasional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occasional. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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