1
as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence
the weekend forecast is for occasional showers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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Recent Examples of occasional
On the other end of the line was an occasional guest on the Charlie Kirk Show, Keith Rose, a Texas plastic surgeon and former military doctor who doubles as a geopolitical and intelligence commentator on conservative podcasts.
—
Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Electric guitars were replaced with acoustics and the occasional upright bass.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
That lasts for at least five years for about half of all people with Crohn's who are treated properly, according to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, though occasional relapses are not unusual.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 31 Mar. 2026
Though there were occasional callbacks, such as the reappearance of the MacLaren’s Pub set and a cameo from Smulders as Robin, the show largely focused on a new cast and storyline.
—Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for occasional
Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Electric guitars were replaced with acoustics and the occasional upright bass.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
That lasts for at least five years for about half of all people with Crohn's who are treated properly, according to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, though occasional relapses are not unusual.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 31 Mar. 2026
Though there were occasional callbacks, such as the reappearance of the MacLaren’s Pub set and a cameo from Smulders as Robin, the show largely focused on a new cast and storyline.
—Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for occasional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occasional
Adjective
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The data points to a genuine enhancement in the sporadic fireball background at the large-object end of the size distribution.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The two sides have engaged in sporadic retaliatory aerial attacks in recent years, though the fighting between them had largely simmered down in recent months.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Humor about the pickle often stems from its distinctiveness—its tangy, assertive flavor and odd appearance lend themselves to exaggerated, whimsical depictions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
31 Mar. 2026
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Indeed, the evening was so odd that even the famously reclusive poet Robinson Jeffers, who rarely attended parties, left home to experience the spectacle for himself.—
Serena Turner,
Vanity Fair,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
While Coptic Christians have long faced discrimination and intermittent violence in Egypt, attacks during this period intensified in both scale and public visibility.—
Candace Lukasik,
The Conversation,
27 Mar. 2026
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Robert Kearns, a Michigan engineer, invented the intermittent windshield wiper in the 1960s.—
Ugo Troiano,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The decision drew immediate fire from El-Sayed's primary opponents and national Democratic figures, forcing a rare public reckoning over how far the party should go to recapture young men who abandoned it in record numbers in 2024.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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That would be a rare bit of good news from our embrace of AI.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Skarsgård’s character James ejaculating at the beach after a sudden handjob by Mia Goth’s freewheeling Gabi.—
Gustavo Turner,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Chris Kuhlman, a meteorologist with the weather service office in Phoenix, said in a forecast discussion that most storm activity will remain isolated and weak.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
AZCentral.com,
29 Mar. 2026
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Still, food insecurity and isolated malnutrition aren’t the same as widespread starvation.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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When a series of tragic failures at New Era Community Health Center left scores of the county’s weakest, poorest and most erratic residents in danger, Florida health inspectors took the unusual step of threatening to shut down the home.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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Many of Barbosa’s followers know him for his unusual feats like holding the Guinness World Record for the fastest visits to every CTA station or sprinting through the United Center during a Bulls game.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Options like these often lead to infrequent use.—
Kelley Bruss,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Mar. 2026
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Club matches over cable remained infrequent, but as transatlantic connections grew, so did interest in long-distance chess.—
Danny Robb,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Occasional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occasional. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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