sporadically

adverb

spo·​rad·​i·​cal·​ly spə-ˈra-di-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce sporadically (audio)
Synonyms of sporadicallynext
: 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.
No group has claimed responsibility but residents told The Associated Press that many gunmen on bikes shot sporadically into the community. ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026 Some airports publish wait times sporadically, and some don’t at all. Michele Luhn, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026 The administration has asked for an astonishing $200 billion to fund a war that the president also sporadically claims is over, giving legislators an unappetizing choice between funding a quagmire or else walking away and leaving a mess behind. David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026 For months, Russians have complained that Telegram was working slower and more sporadically, and this week users began reporting a major slowdown. Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 22 Mar. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Sporadically.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sporadically. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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