sporadic
adjective
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Sporadic Has Medieval Latin Roots
Sporadic describes the distribution of something across space or time that is not frequent enough to fill an area or period, often in scattered instances or isolated outbursts (as in "sporadic applause"). The word comes from Medieval Latin sporadicus, which is itself derived from Greek sporadēn, meaning "here and there." It is also related to the Greek verb speirein ("to sow"), the ancestor from which we get our word spore (the reproductive cell of a fungus, microorganism, or some plants), hinting at the seeming scattered nature by which such cells spread and germinate.
Synonyms
- aperiodic
- casual
- catchy
- choppy
- discontinuous
- episodic
- episodical
- erratic
- fitful
- intermittent
- irregular
- occasional
- spasmodic
- spastic
- spotty
- unsteady
Example Sentences
Mark Krikorian, National Review, 26 Jan. 2004 I left Madras twenty years ago. Two marriages and three children later I am a different man from the one who left. My return visits have been sporadic. But there is great delight in a homecoming. Abraham Verghese, Atlantic, February 2001 The Bronx begins here physically, and it began here historically as well; this was the site of Jonas Bronck's farmhouse. Not much is known about him: he was a Swedish sea captain who was induced to settle the area by the Dutch West India Company. A peace treaty signed at Bronck's house ended years of sporadic but bloody skirmishes between the Dutch and the Weckquasgeeks. Marcus Laffey, New Yorker, 15 May 2000 Sporadic cases of the disease were reported. sporadic loud noises kept startling everyone Megan Myers, Fox News, 28 Aug. 2022 With no rain to be expected, skies will be mostly sunny with a few sporadic clouds. Liset Cruz, ajc, 28 May 2022 In 2001, California faced an extended energy crisis when a state electricity-deregulation law resulted in frequent power shortages, sporadic blackouts, astronomical wholesale prices and market manipulation. Jennifer Hiller, WSJ, 5 Sep. 2022 Even amid a late New York jaunt, Maggie – group alpha, as sporadic childhood flashbacks underline – can be seen struggling with the fact that erstwhile fledgling Birdy is outgrowing her in life and love. Mike Mccahill, Variety, 30 Aug. 2022 Arizona has a 10-6 lead in a sporadic series with SDSU that traces back to an 8-0 Aztecs victory in 1931 at Arizona Stadium. San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2022 During sporadic trips back to Canada, Worthy met with fellow Vancouverite Sean House, gradually finishing the songs that would wind up on their debut as LND DRGS. Max Bell, SPIN, 30 Aug. 2022 There is a 40 percent chance of favorable weather conditions on Saturday, with sporadic showers in the forecast. Catherine Garcia, The Week, 29 Aug. 2022 The plant has come under sporadic shelling since early August, although the extent of the damage remains unclear. Andrew E. Kramer, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Medieval Latin sporadicus, from Greek sporadikos, from sporadēn here and there, from sporad-, sporas scattered; akin to Greek speirein to sow — more at sperm
circa 1689, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing sporadic
Medical Definition
sporadic
adjective
sporadic
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- occasional
- intermittent
- erratic
- irregular
- sudden
- spasmodic
- casual
- unpredictable
- discontinuous
- violent
- unsteady
- episodic
- spastic
- fitful
- spotty
- episodical
- aperiodic
- volatile
- scattered
- random
- choppy
- haphazard
- interrupted
- varying
- changing
- fragmentary
- catchy
- odd
- changeful
- disconnected
- aimless
- unstable
- broken
- desultory
- convulsive
- slapdash
- uncertain
- unsettled
- fluctuating
- stray
- hit-and-miss
- arbitrary
- hit-or-miss
- capricious
- inconstant
- variable
- wavering
- temperamental
- mercurial
- mutable
- fluid
- changeable
- fickle
- flickery
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continuous
- constant
- periodic
- regular
- steady
- habitual
- stable
- repeated
- systematic
- uniform
- stationary
- even
- unchanging
- methodical
- equable
- unrelenting
- unvarying
- changeless
- orderly
- unremitting
- unwavering
- methodic
Synonyms & Similar Words
- occasional
- infrequent
- odd
- isolated
- rare
- unusual
- uncommon
- scattered
- intermittent
- scarce
- few and far between
- discontinuous
- spasmodic
- fitful
- irregular
- unique
- spotty
- erratic
- choppy
- unsteady
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- frequent
- regular
- daily
- common
- ordinary
- routine
Synonym Chooser
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.
Although the words infrequent and sporadic have much in common, infrequent implies occurrence at wide intervals in space or time.
The meanings of rare and sporadic largely overlap; however, rare suggests extreme scarcity or infrequency and often implies consequent high value.
While the synonyms scarce and sporadic are close in meaning, scarce implies falling short of a standard or required abundance.
The synonyms uncommon and sporadic are sometimes interchangeable, but uncommon suggests a frequency below normal expectation.