as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence
the novel captures the discontinuous nature of a soldier's life: long stretches of boredom interrupted by flashes of action
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Recent Examples of discontinuous
Abstract: Tasks involving locally unstable or discontinuous dynamics (such as bifurcations and collisions) remain challenging in robotics, because small variations in the environment can have a significant impact on task outcomes.
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Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 2 June 2023
The world is in the early stages of a vast and likely discontinuous energy transition that will match the Industrial Revolution in its hard-to-anticipate effects.
—Robert B. Zoellick, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2022
The film does not try to hide the digital stitches that bind together discontinuous elements.
—Abraham Villa Figueroa, Variety, 11 Aug. 2023
Geologists have known since the late 19th century that the world’s fossil-bearing rocks represent a discontinuous fraction of the various environments that have come and gone through time.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for discontinuous 
Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 2 June 2023
The world is in the early stages of a vast and likely discontinuous energy transition that will match the Industrial Revolution in its hard-to-anticipate effects.
—Robert B. Zoellick, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2022
The film does not try to hide the digital stitches that bind together discontinuous elements.
—Abraham Villa Figueroa, Variety, 11 Aug. 2023
Geologists have known since the late 19th century that the world’s fossil-bearing rocks represent a discontinuous fraction of the various environments that have come and gone through time.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for discontinuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discontinuous
Adjective
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This year's monsoon was sporadic and the seventh-driest on record.Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 14 Nov. 2024
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The key is to move beyond sporadic volunteerism toward strategic, long-term partnerships that create measurable impact.Mark Morgan, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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This period of intermittent cooling began during the 1200s and lasted through the 1800s.Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 20 Nov. 2024
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For example, one study in menopausal women found that a supplement containing valerian essence and lemon balm led to fewer sleep issues, such as night hot flashes, insomnia, and intermittent sleep, compared to the placebo group.Kylie Gilbert, Glamour, 19 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Molly Higgins Millions of Americans, like me, spend their workdays on pursuits that lack any physical manifestation beyond the occasional hard-copy book or memo or report.Vince Beiser, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024
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All parts need to be hand-washed, and the carafe calls for occasional descaling.Rennie Dyball, People.com, 29 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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These sudden eruptions of random violence seem inspired by GSC’s own experiences having to stop work to flee to bomb shelters and finding previously peaceful streets marred by the war.Issy van der Velde, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2024
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That part of the tale is set in motion with a sudden squall – chillingly rendered by thunder cracks (kudos to John Shivers’ sound design) and flashes of lightning (ditto to lighting designer Kevin Adams).Greg Evans, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near discontinuous
Cite this Entry
“Discontinuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discontinuous. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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