Definitions
- Referring to something that occurs irregularly or infrequently. - Describing something that happens in isolated instances with no predictable pattern. - Talking about something that is occasional or intermittent in nature.
- Referring to something that occurs at irregular intervals or with breaks in between. - Describing something that happens on and off, with periods of activity and inactivity. - Talking about something that is sporadic or occasional in nature.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe something that happens irregularly or infrequently.
- 2Both words suggest a lack of consistency or predictability.
- 3Both words can be used to describe patterns of behavior or events.
What is the difference?
- 1Frequency: Sporadic suggests less frequency than intermittent, which implies more regularity.
- 2Duration: Intermittent suggests breaks or pauses in between occurrences, while sporadic does not necessarily imply any specific duration.
- 3Intensity: Intermittent suggests fluctuations in intensity or activity, while sporadic does not necessarily imply any change in intensity.
- 4Cause: Intermittent can suggest a cyclical or recurring cause, while sporadic does not necessarily imply any specific cause.
- 5Connotation: Intermittent has a more neutral connotation, while sporadic can have a negative connotation of being unpredictable or unreliable.
Remember this!
Sporadic and intermittent are synonyms that both describe something that happens irregularly or infrequently. However, sporadic suggests less frequency and does not necessarily imply any specific duration or intensity. On the other hand, intermittent suggests breaks or pauses in between occurrences and can imply fluctuations in intensity or activity.
