Intermittent
mediumNeutral tonein-ter-MIT-ent
adjective
Definition
Occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady
Memory hook
INTER-MITT-ent: MITT drops the ball BETWEEN catches -- on-off-on-off, not continuous.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The internet connection was intermittent during the storm.”
“She experienced intermittent pain in her knee.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The internet connection was ______ during the storm.”
Show answer
intermittent
Categories
GRE Tip
Intermittent is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "sporadic" or "irregular" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "continuous".
Related GRE Words
sporadic
Occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated
erratic
Not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable
unorthodox
Contrary to what is usual, traditional, or accepted
abate
To reduce in amount, degree, or intensity
abiding
Lasting for a long time; enduring and unchanging
abstract
Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence
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