1
as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence
the weekend forecast is for occasional showers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
There are milestone-celebrating couples in their fifties and sixties who've done the traditional luxury hotel circuit and want something real, plus the occasional corporate retreat where VPs swap their suits for rain jackets.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
College football is evolving, and the occasional high-profile quarterback drama will neither accelerate the process nor stop it.
—Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Snow rests lightly on branches and the occasional rain glides off dormant stems.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026
This week marks 10 years since the death of the musician, actor, unlikely internet pioneer, and occasional artist David Bowie.
—Alexander Larman, Time, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for occasional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occasional
Adjective
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The study made a significant contribution, if not clarification, to this academic niche — medieval migration wasn’t seasonal, nor sporadic and intense.—
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Trying to keep up with tariff news, especially as a consumer who isn't necessarily an expert in economic policy, can feel like dodging sporadic jump scares.—
Adjective
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Toronto netminder Dennis Hildeby stoned Trevor Zegras on a breakaway, and later made consecutive saves on Matvei Michkov and Sean Couturier to spring the odd-man rush that led to Cowan's goal.—
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The details of Cooper’s crime seemed too tempting to McNally, a high school dropout turned military-airplane electrician who’d pursued odd jobs and scams since being discharged.—
Adjective
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These include electric vehicles with extended driving ranges, large-scale renewable energy storage systems that can balance intermittent solar and wind power, and lightweight, flexible power sources for portable and wearable electronics.—
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Countries also need to work on better connecting intermittent renewables — those which work only when the sun shines or the wind blows — with batteries that can store their energy.—
Adjective
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These Hokas are the rare travel shoe that works across all ages, activity levels, and destinations.—
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The study offers rare, direct evidence of this process by tracking cool gas across entire galaxies, something that was not possible before large surveys like MaNGA.—
Adjective
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Leave a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to account for sudden stops or changes in the traffic pattern.—
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The engine, freed from its hook by a sudden hard, precise kick, quickly sank into the river, pulling the cord tight and dragging the foreman underwater.—
Adjective
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The pair become isolated in a rundown Oklahoma motel room as discussions of conspiracy theories take place.—
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The gringos are coming, and Latour must shore up the diocese, trekking between isolated haciendas and pueblos with his quasi-spousal companion Father Vaillant.—
Adjective
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This translation by Nancy Naomi Carlson preserves the rich musicality of the original French, as well as its frequent use of wordplay and often unusual word choice.—
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Ostrich Leather Recognizable by its distinctive quill pattern and supple texture, ostrich leather combines durability with an unusual kind of beauty.—
Adjective
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Hurricane season lasts from June through November, and while storms are infrequent, expect generally warmer, wetter weather and passing afternoon showers.—
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Diseases that are now infrequent but highly contagious, like rotavirus, could begin to reemerge, said Choma, a clinical assistant professor at the George Washington University School of Nursing.—
Cite this Entry
“Occasional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occasional. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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