Sporadic
mediumNeutral tonespuh-RAD-ik
adjective
Definition
Occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated
Memory hook
SPOR-ADIC: Like SPORES scattered randomly by wind -- irregular, here and there.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“There were sporadic outbreaks of violence throughout the city.”
“His attendance at meetings was sporadic and unreliable.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“There were ______ outbreaks of violence throughout the city.”
Show answer
sporadic
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Sporadic is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "intermittent" or "irregular" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "constant".
Related GRE Words
intermittent
Occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady
erratic
Not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable
fragmented
Broken or separated into distinct parts; lacking unity
sparse
Thinly dispersed or scattered; not dense
unorthodox
Contrary to what is usual, traditional, or accepted
abate
To reduce in amount, degree, or intensity
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