It was Van Persie's only opportunity during a stop-start match in which Theo Walcott, Gervinho and Aaron Ramsey squandered chances to open the scoring.
Source: wiktionary
Stop-start
Synonyms for "stop-start" (2 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (1)
Adjective(1 words)
Related words (1)
Adjective(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: discontinuous, patchy.
- Sentence evidence is available for stop-start, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse.
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 "stop-start".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "stop-start"
Keep "stop-start" 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 "stop-start" 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 "stop-start", 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 "stop-start" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Sample sentences
4 total sentences available.
Health, a quartet from Los Angeles, is another story, playing manic, stop-start spasms of percussion and screamy noise, with three of its members throwing their bodies around as if in an untamed dance.
Source: wiktionary
Otherwise, we would not be talking about electrifying the main lines, as the work would have been long since done. Instead, we are now at the sixth stage of a stop (1960s) start (1990s East Coast) stop (1990s) start (2000s Great Western) stop (2010s) process that has gone on for more than half a century.
Source: wiktionary
These strategies also need plans which are then developed for delivery in an efficient manner, unlike the shop-start stuff we have lived with for far too long.
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "stop-start"?
Closest matches include discontinuous, patchy.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "stop-start"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.