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Intermittent vs Temporary - What's the difference?

intermittent | temporary |

As adjectives the difference between intermittent and temporary

is that intermittent is stopping and starting at intervals; coming after a particular time span; not steady or constant while temporary is not permanent; existing only for a period or periods of time.

As nouns the difference between intermittent and temporary

is that intermittent is an intermittent fever or disease while temporary is one serving for a limited time; short-term employee.

intermittent

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Stopping and starting at intervals; coming after a particular time span; not steady or constant
  • The day was cloudy with intermittent rain.
    Intermittent bugs are most difficult to reproduce.
  • (specifically, geology, of a body of water) Existing only for certain seasons; that is, being dry for part of the year.
  • The area has many intermittent lakes and streams.

    Derived terms

    * intermittently

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (medicine, dated) An intermittent fever or disease.
  • (Dunglison)
    ----

    temporary

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Not permanent; existing only for a period or periods of time.
  • Existing only for a short time or short times; transient, ephemeral.
  • Synonyms

    * See also

    Noun

    (temporaries)
  • One serving for a limited time; short-term employee.
  • Synonyms

    * temp