intermittent

adjective

ˌin-tər-ˈmi-tᵊnt How to pronounce intermittent (audio)
Definition of intermittentnext
1
as in recurrent
occurring or appearing at intervals intermittent showers had me opening and closing my umbrella all day long

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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

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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 intermittent Electrical issues can cause intermittent issues or even prevent the entire system from working. — Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2025 Isik Mater, the director of research at NetBlocks, a company that tracks global internet connectivity, told NBC News that X had suffered intermittent outages since Monday morning. — Rob Wile, NBC News, 10 Mar. 2025 And while some similarly reparative serums require some downtime or intermittent usage, this can be applied mindlessly. — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2025 After the know-nothing county board opts to raze the baseball diamond to make way for a school, the teams meet for one final game at their beloved Soldier’s Field, with girlfriends, kids, and local hooligans as intermittent spectators. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for intermittent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intermittent
  1. recurrent
  2. sporadic
  3. recurring
  4. occasional
  5. periodic
  6. sudden
Adjective
  • Accurately understanding the political implications of Trump’s presidencies requires treating him as the newest example of a recurrent phenomenon in American political life.
    — Justin Peck / Made by History, TIME, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Treating a male partner with oral and topical medicine in a woman with recurrent bacterial vaginosis makes good clinical sense based on this study.
    — Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of recurrent
Adjective
  • Peoples Gas has been onsite multiple times over the winter and identified the boiler exhaust flue as a potential source of the sporadic smell, district officials said.
    — Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Local media did sporadic stories about the local flooding, but there were endless reports about Western NC, including from national news outlets.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2025
Definition of sporadic
Adjective
  • The strange makeup of recurring dreams Research has found that most recurring dreams have a negative tone with themes often related to helplessness, failure, or being chased.
    — Stacey Colino, TIME, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Anxiety about pocketbook issues, however, formed a recurring and persistent theme.
    — David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2024
Definition of recurring
Adjective
  • Winds will increase during the afternoon hours, with occasional gusts to around 15 to 20 mph.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Even their occasional technical difficulties resolved into exhilarating feedback storms.
    — Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of occasional
Adjective
  • In the Federal Reserve’s periodic Beige Book look at economic conditions, there were more than 50 mentions of either tariffs or trade policy concerns.
    — Yun Li, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Yesterday’s defenses—periodic scans, manual oversight and static controls—crumble against adversaries wielding AI to exploit vulnerabilities at machine speed.
    — Tim Eades, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of periodic
Adjective
  • Among them was a trade group representing major foreign automakers like BMW, Honda, and Toyota—Autos Drive America—which agreed with Tesla that the USTR should slow Trump down and require considerations about long-term impacts of sudden actions to address unfair trade.
    — Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 14 Mar. 2025
  • What to do in an earthquake Earthquakes’ sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of sudden

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Cite this Entry

“Intermittent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intermittent. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on intermittent

Nglish: Translation of intermittent for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about intermittent

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