OFF AND ON Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

off and on

adverb

Definition of off and on

as in on and off

not constantly or steadily over a period of time They've been dating off and on for almost a year.

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of off and on Repeatedly taking your shoes off and on is time-consuming and exasperating. — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026 All in all, the second seizure lasted about 4 hours off and on. — Vanessa Romo, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026 Although Walker and Gaul continued seeing each other off and on until Gaul was a freshman in college, Walker eventually ended their relationship for good after a series of concerning incidents. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026 The character was originated in 2009 by Nathan Dean, who played him off and on through 2020, and returned in April for a three-month stint on the soap. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for off and on

Recent Examples of Synonyms for off and on

Adverb

Hogan added that the market could experience more trading days like this sporadically over the coming months if sentiment remains subdued amid tensions in the Middle East.

— Sean Conlon, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026
Bators died in 1990, but the group sporadically reunited and toured in the decades after.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of sporadically

Adverb

Parker’s hair was gathered into an enormous, layered, fishtail braid that starts high on the back of her head with a bow, its ends interlaced intermittently with the incredibly thick folds of the plaits.

— Marci Robin, Allure, 2 Oct. 2026
But according to Erika, his heart continued to beat intermittently, creating a cruel window of hope.

— Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of intermittently

Adverb

Tens of thousands of people periodically march in major cities demanding action from lawmakers and blaming real estate speculators as well as tourist apartment platforms like Airbnb for rising rents.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026
Organizations should periodically ask whether their indicators still reflect their mission or whether reporting requirements have slowly begun shaping program choices.

— Ekramy El Zaghat, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of periodically

Adverb

Each episode follows one garden over an extended period, capturing animal behavior rarely witnessed by human eyes – from raising families and defending territories to hunting, courting and surviving the changing seasons.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
Yet even as built, the stadium rarely reached capacity, a challenge eventually compounded by the foundering product on the gridiron.

— Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of rarely

Adverb

Run by Garelick and President Will Phelps, American High was founded to fill a gap in the feature market by producing the kinds of teen comedies that are now seldom made elsewhere.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026
Yet the melodrama of the Trask men—and the misfortune of the women who come into their lives—has seldom been brought to the screen, most likely because of the challenges posed by the saga’s narrative sprawl.

— Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of seldom

Browse Nearby Words

offal

off and on

off base

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“Off and on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off%20and%20on. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of off and on

adverb

Example Sentences

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