intermittent
/ˌɪntəˈmɪtn̩t/
Group 23Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady GRE
Example in Context
Intermittent power outages disrupted hospital operations, forcing staff to rely on backup generators that were themselves in poor repair.
Synonyms
on and offsporadicirregular
Etymology
Sending things between intervals — not consistent, but sporadic.
- inter- (Latin) — between
- mittere (Latin) — to send
Memory Aid
⏸️Sounds like “intermittent”
Imagine a DJ hitting the INTERMITTENT pause button on the music — it stops and starts, confusing the crowd!
Visual Association
🌧️Rain showers that come and go, leaving the sun to peek through sporadically.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “intermittent” mean on the GRE?
intermittent (adjective) means “Occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady”. Intermittent power outages disrupted hospital operations, forcing staff to rely on backup generators that were themselves in poor repair.
How to remember “intermittent” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “intermittent” sounds like “intermittent”. Imagine a DJ hitting the INTERMITTENT pause button on the music — it stops and starts, confusing the crowd!
What are synonyms for “intermittent”?
Common synonyms: on and off, sporadic, irregular.