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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Listen to your favorite songs while doing housework, or take an occasional dance break, for example. — Renée Onque, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026 White elephant gift exchanges are a holiday party staple, bringing plenty of laughs, a little friendly competition and, of course, the occasional gift-stealing showdown. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026 Why washable sofa covers matter for pet owners A sofa that doubles as a dog bed collects fur, drool and the occasional accident. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026 Despite the occasional witty crossover event, English and ASL evolve in completely distinct environments, and at different speeds. — New York Times, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for occasional

Recent Examples of Synonyms for occasional

Adjective

In the absence of regular data, analysts and activists interested in immigration trends have relied on information obtained through lawsuits or limited and sporadic information released by federal agencies to track deportation data.

— Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Only some regional operators have continued sporadic services, generally using smaller feeder vessels.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of sporadic

Adjective

Those visual gags feel like an odd fit for the material; Ishiguro is known more for low-grade existential sadness than slapstick.

— Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 22 Oct. 2026
McKee has had a bit of an odd season starting from training camp when the Eagles brought in veteran Andy Dalton to challenge for the backup job.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of odd

Adjective

People went through the admission and security checkpoints without issues, and the event’s early evening acts enjoyed mostly dry stages with light, intermittent rain.

— Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
Ohtani has been playing with a bad knee and biceps for three months, and the Dodgers already have tried intermittent rest.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of intermittent

Adjective

Voting by noncitizens and fraud involving mail ballots are both rare.

— Aoife Walsh, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
Back in 2023, Stevens revealed he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome—a rare auto-immune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves—and was working to relearn how to walk and use his hands.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of rare

Adjective

This is not a sudden shift in attitude to defend a controversial CBA.

— Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 20 Oct. 2026
In addition to low blood oxygen levels and low blood pressure, a pulmonary embolism can affect the heart, causing a fast or irregular heart rate, right-sided heart failure or sudden cardiac arrest.

— Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of sudden

Adjective

That night, Pike, her boyfriend, 17-year-old Tadaryl Shipp, and an acquaintance, Shadolla Peterson, 18, lured Slemmer to an isolated area behind the agricultural campus steam plant.

— Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
One of the coolest things happening in hip-hop production right now is the way different isolated microscenes are mining the dance music of the Black diaspora.

— Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of isolated

Adjective

And now Great Question will, hopefully CBS News thinks, bring that voice to new places, in a digital expansion that is unusual for an evening news anchor.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
But the book walks the reader through Raichlen’s unusual path to becoming a food writer obsessed with the art of barbecuing.

— Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of unusual

Adjective

Spider Plant Another hard-to-kill houseplant is the ubiquitous spider plant, which can handle both low light and infrequent watering thanks to its fleshy white roots that store water.

— Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 21 Oct. 2026
But these infrequent episodes ultimately didn’t sway my stance.

— Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 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 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of occasional

adjective

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