as in off and on
not constantly or steadily over a period of time
It's been raining on and off all afternoon.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in recurrent
occurring or appearing at intervals
an on-and-off friendship over the years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for on and off
Adverb
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Yet for busy business travelers or families looking to catch their breath after bracing crowded TSA lines and taking their shoes off and on, the facilities meet basic needs.—
Vinod Sreeharsha,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2025 -
He’s worked on the Oscars off and on since 1989, the year of the infamous Rob Lowe-Snow White … whatever the hell that was.—
Maer Roshan,
The Hollywood Reporter,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Adverb
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Johns takes another early round loss, and seems content to play singles only sporadically in 2025.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
-
After that, it was used sporadically over the years for an array of warehouse operations.—
George Avalos,
The Mercury News,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Anxiety about pocketbook issues, however, formed a recurring and persistent theme.—
David Lauter,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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And in spite of market turbulence caused by Mr. Trump's tariff threats, some experts think stocks are likely to gain strength in the months to come, although not without periodic bouts of volatility.—
Alain Sherter,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2025
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Other income, net, increased to $2.2 million, largely due to net periodic pension benefits.—
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom,
Quartz,
18 Mar. 2025
Adverb
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Disclaimer: Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
16 Mar. 2025
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The Department of Education’s National Assessment of Educational Progress periodically evaluates 12th-grade students in a variety of subjects.—
Richard Lorenc,
Twin Cities,
16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Roughly 164 were returned to non-pay intermittent status, while the rest were returned to paid administrative leave.—
Ashley Murray,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Mar. 2025
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The 2025 season opener in Australia was an intense race for all F1 teams considering the intermittent rainfall that led them to shift tire strategies according to the varying conditions.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
16 Mar. 2025
Adverb
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Cassell occasionally brings this discourse to life as a panel host and guest.—
Cassell Ferere,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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Highlight: Some guests have remarked on the magical family of deer that occasionally wanders by the house.—
Elise Taylor,
Vogue,
22 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“On and off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/on%20and%20off. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
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