Master confusing words with ease
Occasional vs. Intermittent
Occasional
/əˈkeɪʒənəl/Examples:
The road was in poor condition with the occasional large hole.'I will be calm!' he said, knocking over an occasional table.She attends the meetings, making occasional comments.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Intermittent
/ˌɪntəˈmɪtənt/Examples:
The rain was intermittent throughout the day.His health suffered due to his intermittent sleeping schedule.The city's power supply was intermittent during the storm.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Occasional is like a surprise visit from a friend — it happens now and then, but not regularly.
- Intermittent is like a stop-and-go traffic jam, with pauses and breaks in continuity.
- Use occasional when you want to express something that happens infrequently and without a predictable pattern.
- Intermittent suggests a pattern that is irregular or sporadic; think of something that starts, stops, and starts again.
- Remember occasional for random occurrences and intermittent for irregular but recurring interruptions.
© 2025 Lithium Lab Pte Ltd