What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
episodal
Example
The TV show is episodal, with each episode telling a different story. [episodal: adjective]
Example
Her migraines are episodal and can last for days at a time. [episodal: adjective]
sporadic
Example
The company's profits have been sporadic over the past few years. [sporadic: adjective]
Example
She has sporadic contact with her old college friends. [sporadic: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sporadic is more commonly used than episodal in everyday language. Sporadic is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while episodal is less common and is often used in specific contexts such as medicine or storytelling.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between episodal and sporadic?
Both episodal and sporadic are relatively formal words and are not commonly used in casual conversation. However, sporadic is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of formality levels.
