intermittent synonyms

intermittent

modif.

periodic, alternate, shifting, coming and going, recurrent, sporadic, irregular, broken, seasonal, rhythmic, serial, epochal, cyclical, cyclic, discontinuous, interrupted, every other, spasmodic, on and off, fitful, occasional, now and then, by snatches*, here and there*, on-again off-again*; see also irregular 1.

Antonyms constant*, lasting*, incessant.

intermittent and recurrent both apply to something that stops and starts, or disappears and reappears, from time to time, but the former usually stresses the breaks or pauses, and the latter, the repetition or return an intermittent fever, recurrent attacks of the hives; periodic refers to something that recurs at more or less regular intervals periodic economic crises; alternate is usually used of two recurrent things that succeed each other in turns alternate stripes of blue and white, a life of alternate sorrow and joy

Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
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