My connection has sporadic problems.
Source: tatoeba (2534606)
Sporadic
Synonyms for "sporadic" (227 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (46)
Adjective(6 words)
Noun(2 words)
break in schedulecatnapping
Strong matches (68)
Adjective(19 words)
episodicepisodic tearingfragmented developmentfragmented landscapegapped performanceinconsistent patterninfrequentinfrequent patternintermittentintermittent productionirregular data patternirregular movementirregular patternirregular publicationirregular studyirregular teachingisolated componentsisolated equipmentisolated patches
Verb(2 words)
Related words (113)
nonconformistnonstandardnonsymmetricalnonsystematicnonuniformoccasionalon-again-off-againorderlesspandemicpatchyperiodicperiodicalpestiferouspestilentialpiecemealplanlesspluralisticpromiscuousraggedrambling
Show 68 more words
randomrareroughscarcescatteredscrappyseldomsenselessseparateshapelesssinglesnatchysparsespasmaticspasmicspasmodicspasmodicalspasticspottyspreadspreadingstaggeringstragglingstragglystraystrewnstrownsystemlesstakingunarrangeduncertainunclassifieduncommonundirectedunequableunequalunevenunexpectedunfrequentungradedunjoinedunmethodicalunmetricalunorderedunorganizedunorthodoxunregularunrhythmicalunsettledunsortedunstableunsteadyunsymmetricalunsystematicununiformvaguevariablevariegatedvariformvariousvaryingveeringwanderingwaveringwidespreadwobblingwobblyzymotic
Adjective(20 words)
noncyclic exchangenonweeklyoccasionaloccasional instructionoccasional tearingoffbeatpatchiestpatchypiecemeal planningrandom resultrare creaturerare occurrenceraredscatteredsplotchystreakyuncoordinated pricingunpredictableunstable energy descriptorunsystematic notes
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: aimless, amorphous, annual irregular, break in schedule, broadcast.
- Sentence evidence is available for sporadic, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "sporadic".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "sporadic"
Keep "sporadic" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "sporadic" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "sporadic", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "sporadic" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
2 entriesdistribution irregularityirregularity
More specific
5 entriespatchy distributionscattered populationsporadic incidentssporadic outbreakssporadic rainfall
Collocations
6 entriessporadic attendancesporadic burstssporadic casessporadic datasporadic eventssporadic outbreaks
Inflections
2 entriesmore sporadicmost sporadic
Derivations
3 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
12 entriesSample sentences
6 total sentences available.
Apart from hearing sporadic gunfire, the day was pretty quiet.
Source: tatoeba (2654416)
Sporadic gunfire was heard in the distance.
Source: tatoeba (2807065)
Sami's movements were sporadic.
Source: tatoeba (7205267)
Showing 4 of 6 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "sporadic"?
Closest matches include aimless, amorphous, annual irregular, break in schedule, broadcast.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "sporadic"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.