Master confusing words with ease
Periodic vs. Sporadic
Periodic
/ˌpɪəriˈɒdɪk/Examples:
The report requires periodic updates for accuracy.Periodic maintenance prevents system failures.He programmed the heater to switch on at periodic intervals.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Sporadic
/spəˈrædɪk/Examples:
The power outages were sporadic throughout the storm.Wildflowers appeared sporadically in the barren field.He made sporadic attempts to learn a new language.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Periodic refers to something that occurs at regular, predictable intervals.
- Sporadic describes events that happen irregularly and without a predictable pattern.
- A periodic event is often scheduled or expected, whereas a sporadic event happens unexpectedly.
- Think of a periodic table in chemistry, which is orderly; contrast this with sporadic spots on a wall, which are random.
- Periodic implies consistency, whereas sporadic implies irregularity and rarity.
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