Synonym Chooser

How is the word sporadic distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of sporadic are infrequent, rare, scarce, and uncommon. While all these words mean "not common or abundant," sporadic implies occurrence in scattered instances or isolated outbursts.

sporadic cases of influenza

When is it sensible to use infrequent instead of sporadic?

Although the words infrequent and sporadic have much in common, infrequent implies occurrence at wide intervals in space or time.

infrequent family visits

When is rare a more appropriate choice than sporadic?

The meanings of rare and sporadic largely overlap; however, rare suggests extreme scarcity or infrequency and often implies consequent high value.

rare first editions

Where would scarce be a reasonable alternative to sporadic?

While the synonyms scarce and sporadic are close in meaning, scarce implies falling short of a standard or required abundance.

jobs were scarce during the Depression

When would uncommon be a good substitute for sporadic?

The synonyms uncommon and sporadic are sometimes interchangeable, but uncommon suggests a frequency below normal expectation.

smallpox is now uncommon in many countries

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 sporadic The Donald who hams it up in sporadic appearances on Sarah’s comedy specials and series. Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2025 This sporadic approach confuses both your audience and the LinkedIn algorithm. Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025 Unfortunately, those days are more sporadic and like Hernandez, resembles little to the player who dragged Milan over the line three years ago to steal an unlikely league title. Emmet Gates, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025 Those moments have grown more sporadic in recent months, with Watkins no longer looked to as Villa’s key source of goals. Mark Carey, New York Times, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for sporadic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sporadic
Adjective
  • There is an occasional veteran who shows up on a rehabilitation assignment.
    Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
  • Having the occasional treat or missing a workout is okay.
    Lindsay Curtis, Health, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • Residents lack running water, use 5-gallon buckets as toilets and must contend with intermittent electricity and deteriorating homes that expose them to the region’s fierce weather.
    Emily Schwing, ProPublica, 29 May 2025
  • The issues appeared to be largely resolved by around 10 a.m., but some users experienced intermittent issues with the platform until about 11 a.m.
    Erin Doherty, CNBC, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • In the wake of multiple plane crashes, and amid erratic federal policies and denials and detentions at border crossings, summer travel in the U.S. is in an uneasy state.
    Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
  • The growth outlook in Asia’s third-largest economy has remained relatively robust, thanks to strong domestic consumption and a relatively lower dependence on exports, cushioning the blow from U.S. President Donald Trump’s erratic trade policy.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 30 May 2025
Adjective
  • Keep a safe distance: Leave a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to account for sudden stops or changes in the traffic pattern.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 6 June 2025
  • Written in Latin, the coroners' rolls are records of sudden or suspicious deaths as investigated by a jury of local men, called together by the coroner to establish facts and reach a verdict.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • But bypassing multiple periods or having irregular ones could also be a sign of a hormonal disorder—like a thyroid problem or a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)—that’s interfering with your cycle in ways that could risk your health.
    Erica Sloan, SELF, 3 June 2025
  • Both candidates are using migration in Poland as a core campaign issue. Migration, particularly irregular migration, is one of the dominant issues in the country, particularly with regards to the war in Ukraine and Poland’s eastern border with Belarus.
    Frey Lindsay, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sporadic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sporadic. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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