Definitions
- Describing something that occurs at irregular intervals or with breaks in between. - Referring to something that alternates between periods of activity and inactivity. - Talking about something that happens on and off, with no predictable pattern.
- Describing something that occurs irregularly or infrequently. - Referring to something that happens in scattered instances or isolated occurrences. - Talking about something that is unpredictable and inconsistent in its appearance.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe irregularity or inconsistency.
- 2Both words suggest a lack of predictability or pattern.
- 3Both words can be used to describe events or occurrences.
What is the difference?
- 1Frequency: Intermittent suggests something that occurs with breaks or pauses, while sporadic suggests something that happens infrequently or scattered.
- 2Consistency: Intermittent implies some level of regularity or predictability, while sporadic implies a lack of consistency or pattern.
- 3Duration: Intermittent suggests something that occurs over a longer period of time, while sporadic suggests something that happens in isolated instances.
- 4Intensity: Intermittent can imply a fluctuation in intensity, while sporadic does not necessarily imply any change in intensity.
- 5Usage: Intermittent is more commonly used in medical or technical contexts, while sporadic is more commonly used in everyday language.
Remember this!
Intermittent and sporadic are synonyms that describe irregularity or inconsistency. However, intermittent suggests something that occurs with breaks or pauses, while sporadic suggests something that happens infrequently or scattered. Additionally, intermittent implies some level of regularity or predictability, while sporadic implies a lack of consistency or pattern.
