OCCASIONAL Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

occasional

adjective

ə-ˈkā-zh(ə-)nəl

Definition of occasional

as in sporadic

lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence the weekend forecast is for occasional showers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in odd

not often occurring or repeated an occasional mechanical problem with our car, but nothing serious

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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 occasional Ongoing party rectification campaigns require all officials to discipline themselves, and the occasional outright purge of some cadres provides undeniable proof that failure to comply has consequences. — Andrew Mertha, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2026 Other sightings include Florida and the Carolinas, with very occasional instances reported in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest. — Sean Donnelly, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026 Stock the kitchen with healthy fruits and vegetables, and reserve sugary, high-fat items for an occasional treat. — Sarah Vanbuskirk, Parents, 16 Sep. 2026 The city is densely populated but doesn’t have trash containers; instead, people leave their trash bags on the street, where they are often torn up by animals and the occasional vandal. — Esther King, The Dial, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for occasional

Recent Examples of Synonyms for occasional

Adjective

But foreigners have also experienced sporadic outbursts of xenophobic violence.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2026
So, not some soldier making a mistake or some sporadic incident.

— Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of sporadic

Adjective

How Compression Boots Work Compression boots rely on intermittent pneumatic compression, or IPC.

— Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026
The devices use sequential pneumatic pressure to squeeze the legs in wave-like patterns, a technique clinicians call intermittent pneumatic compression, or IPC.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of intermittent

Adjective

If not for the sudden availability of long-distance ocean transport (not to mention constant engineering challenges and the escalating cost of the plan), D-Day may have required far more woollen socks.

— Mike McRae September 16, New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2026
Set on the eve of the Korean war, this ruminative story follows a midwestern family that’s fractured by a mother’s sudden disappearance.

— Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of sudden

Adjective

But the park said there wasn't enough information at the time for management to gauge whether the bear's behavior signaled food-conditioning or an isolated group of incidents.

— Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Police said the shooting appears to be an isolated incident with nothing to indicate an ongoing threat to the public.

— Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of isolated

Adjective

The move is unusual due to the more than six-month-long conflict between Iran and the United States and no sign that agreements to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or return to talks on Iran's nuclear program are close.

— September 18, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026
The team also needed to confirm that the unusual structures were genuine electron behavior rather than artifacts created by the microscope.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of unusual

Adjective

Clearing the uncertainty Neutron capture reactions are difficult to measure directly because recreating stellar conditions in the laboratory is hard; the reactions are infrequent, and the nuclei involved are short-lived.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026
Across two million cancellation surveys analyzed by Churnkey, budget accounted for about a third of cancellations and infrequent use for just under another third.

— George Kapernaros, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of infrequent

Browse Nearby Words

occasion

occasional

occasionally

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“Occasional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occasional. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of occasional

adjective

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