sporadically

adverb

spo·​rad·​i·​cal·​ly spə-ˈra-di-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce sporadically (audio)
Synonyms of sporadically
: in a sporadic manner : not regularly or constantly
gunfire being heard sporadically
software updates that appear sporadically
Originally from the western Pacific Ocean, the shrimp have been spotted sporadically in U.S. waters for the past two decades.—Rick Jervis
Even when the sun is being well behaved, parcels of plasma shoot sporadically toward Earth's dark side, prompting a bright aurora and intensifying radiation belts.—Tim Beardsley

Examples of sporadically in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Amid the heat wave, thousands of Southland residents were sporadically without power as outages popped up in different communities. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 Smith was athletic enough to play all over the field and run track in high school and sporadically practiced with defensive backs in his two years at Georgia. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 23 Aug. 2026 For months, the two countries have traded fire sporadically across their long, mountainous border, leaving hundreds of people dead. — Abdul Qahar Afghan, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026 Naughty Bits ended in 2005 and Gregory’s work has appeared sporadically in other outlets. — Rob Salkowitz, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sporadically

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sporadically was in 1681

Rhymes for sporadically

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Browse Nearby Words

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sporadically
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Cite this Entry

“Sporadically.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sporadically. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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