occasional

adjective

ə-ˈkā-zh(ə-)nəl How to pronounce occasional (audio)
Definition of occasionalnext
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

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 The second half started much like the first half, as both teams created occasional chances, with most of the action coming from the Spanish. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 6 July 2026 High temperatures will settle into the low-to-mid 80s as clouds and occasional rain keep conditions slightly cooler than normal for early July. — Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2026 Unlike virtually every peer, Berkshire Hathaway under Warren Buffett has never paid a dividend, with Berkshire’s dual-class share structure enabling Buffett to substantively ignore occasional sniping from speculators. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 6 July 2026 Additionally, occasional rule-breaking and defiance are considered a normal part of child and adolescent development. — Elizabeth Dowdell, The Conversation, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for occasional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occasional
  1. sporadic
  2. odd
  3. intermittent
  4. rare
  5. sudden
  6. isolated
  7. unusual
  8. infrequent
Adjective
  • Consultants test every element of how to get people — often people who pay only sporadic attention to politics — to open a message and then open their wallets.
    — Michelle Cottle, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
  • The only other competitors were the Anglo-French Concorde and the sporadic Soviet Tupolev Tu-144 program.
    — David Szondy July 02, New Atlas, 2 July 2026
Definition of sporadic
Adjective
  • The idea is to make healthy eating doable, especially for an audience with odd hours and high-stress jobs.
    — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Put those two next to each other and the picture is odd and clarifying at once.
    — Ian Shepherd, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of odd
Adjective
  • The road will remain open, but travelers should expect delays, including intermittent lane closures in both directions, according to a county news release.
    — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
  • Proponents didn’t view the plan as a cure-all but called it a step toward breaking the cycle of intermittent attention by making civilian protection a year-round mission.
    — Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 6 July 2026
Definition of intermittent
Adjective
  • It’s frequented by rare and endangered animals such as melonhead whales, Hawaiian monk seals, and hawksbill and green sea turtles.
    — Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Some also face rarer conditions that affect not only nighttime sleep but also the ability to stay awake and alert during the day.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 8 July 2026
Definition of rare
Adjective
  • Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
    — CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2026
  • The 61-year-old was treated in Greece for neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns, after a sudden cabin depressurization triggered oxygen masks and a rapid descent.
    — Costas Kantouris, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of sudden
Adjective
  • Keep a distance from tall, isolated trees or other elevated objects.
    — KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026
  • Think of this effect as a slow simmer that builds with each exposure to the sun, rather than a single isolated event.
    — Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026
Definition of isolated
Adjective
  • Although his adoption listing didn't mention his unusual paws, his foster mom did.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
  • Indeed, that has led to the highly unusual situation of Australia not being the defending champions in either women’s World Cup, with India holding the 50-over title and New Zealand the T20 crown.
    — Paul Newman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • The shooting took place in a country with far stronger gun laws compared to the US and where mass shootings are infrequent.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 12 July 2026
  • Less social cohesion A decade ago, crime was infrequent and petty.
    — Joseph J. Gonzalez, The Conversation, 9 July 2026
Definition of infrequent

Browse Nearby Words

occasion
occasional
occasionally
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Cite this Entry

“Occasional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occasional. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of occasional for Spanish Speakers

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