Intermittent — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˌin-tər-ˈmi-tᵊnt/ in·ter·mit·tent

Meaning & Definition of Intermittent

Intermittent (adjective)

  1. coming and going at intervals, not continuous; also, occasional
  2. appearing and disappearing seasonally, sometimes dry

Intermittent (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. occurring or appearing at intervals

    "intermittent showers had me opening and closing my umbrella all day long"

    similar: continual, on-and-off, periodic, periodical, recurrent, recurring
    related: alternate, alternating, cyclic, rhythmic, seasonal, serial, aperiodic, erratic, fitful, irregular, occasional, spasmodic, sporadic, spotty, unsteady
    opposite: constant, continuous, incessant, unceasing
    near: eternal, everlasting, interminable, perpetual

  2. lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence

    "the breadwinner's intermittent employment put the family in a difficult position financially"

    similar: aperiodic, casual, catchy, choppy, discontinuous, episodic, erratic, fitful, irregular, occasional, spasmodic, spastic, sporadic, spotty, unsteady
    related: convulsive, sudden, violent, broken, disconnected, fragmentary, interrupted, aimless, arbitrary, desultory, haphazard, hit-and-miss, hit-or-miss, odd, random, scattered, slapdash, stray, capricious, changeful, changing, flickery, fluctuating, fluid, inconstant, mercurial, mutable, temperamental, uncertain, unpredictable, unsettled, unstable, varying, wavering, changeable, fickle, variable, volatile
    opposite: constant, continuous, habitual, periodic, regular, repeated, steady
    near: changeless, equable, even, stable, stationary, uniform, unchanging, unvarying, unwavering, methodical, orderly, systematic, unrelenting, unremitting

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Intermittent

The most common words with a similar meaning to Intermittent:

continual, on-and-off, periodic, periodical, recurrent, recurring, aperiodic, casual, catchy, choppy, discontinuous, episodic, erratic, fitful, irregular, occasional, spasmodic, spastic, sporadic, spotty, unsteady

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Intermittent

Words with the opposite meaning of Intermittent:

constant, continuous, incessant, unceasing, habitual, periodic, regular, repeated, steady

Related Words for Intermittent

alternate, alternating, cyclic, rhythmic, seasonal, serial, convulsive, sudden, violent, broken, disconnected, fragmentary, interrupted, aimless, arbitrary, desultory, haphazard, hit-and-miss, hit-or-miss, odd, random, scattered, slapdash, stray, capricious, changeful, changing, flickery, fluctuating, fluid

Near Antonyms of Intermittent

eternal, everlasting, interminable, perpetual, changeless, equable, even, stable, stationary, uniform, unchanging, unvarying, unwavering, methodical, orderly, systematic, unrelenting, unremitting

Word Forms of Intermittent

Derived words: intermittently (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Intermittent

Latin intermittent-, intermittens, present participle of intermittere see intermit

First known use: 1601

Words & Phrases Containing Intermittent

intermittent claudication

Frequently Asked Questions about Intermittent

What does "Intermittent" mean?

"Intermittent" means coming and going at intervals, not continuous; also, occasional. As an adjective, it is defined as: coming and going at intervals, not continuous; also, occasional. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Intermittent"?

Other words for "Intermittent" include continual, on-and-off, periodic, periodical, recurrent, recurring, aperiodic and casual. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Intermittent" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Intermittent"?

There are 65 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Intermittent". Common alternatives include continual, on-and-off, periodic, periodical, recurrent, recurring, aperiodic, casual, catchy and choppy.

What is the opposite of "Intermittent"?

Antonyms of "Intermittent" include constant, continuous, incessant, unceasing, habitual, periodic, regular and repeated. Near antonyms include eternal, everlasting, interminable and perpetual.

How do you use "Intermittent" in a sentence?

Examples of "Intermittent" in a sentence: "intermittent showers had me opening and closing my umbrella all day long"; "the breadwinner's intermittent employment put the family in a difficult position financially".

Is "Intermittent" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Intermittent" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Intermittent"?

"Intermittent" is pronounced /ˌin-tər-ˈmi-tᵊnt/ and divided into syllables as in·ter·mit·tent.

What is the origin of the word "Intermittent"?

"Intermittent" comes from Latin intermittent-, intermittens, present participle of intermittere see intermit. First known use: 1601.