Antonyms of adj continual

2 senses of continual

Sense 1
continual (vs. sporadic) -- (occurring without interruption; chiefly restricted to what recurs regularly or frequently in a prolonged and closely spaced series; "the continual banging of the shutters")

sporadic (vs. continual) -- (recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances; "a city subjected to sporadic bombing raids")
        => fitful, spasmodic -- (occurring in spells and often abruptly; "fitful bursts of energy"; "spasmodic rifle fire")
        => intermittent -- (stopping and starting at irregular intervals; "intermittent rain showers")
        => periodic, occasional -- (recurring or reappearing from time to time; "periodic feelings of anxiety")
        => irregular, unpredictable -- (not occurring at expected times)
        => isolated, stray -- (not close together in time; "isolated instances of rebellion"; "a few stray crumbs")

Sense 2
continual -- (`continual' (meaning seemingly uninterrupted) is often used interchangeably with `continuous' (meaning without interruption))

INDIRECT (VIA continuous) -> discontinuous, noncontinuous -- (not continuing without interruption in time or space; "discontinuous applause"; "the landscape was a discontinuous mosaic of fields and forest areas"; "he received a somewhat haphazard and discontinuous schooling")

Similarity of adj continual

2 senses of continual

Sense 1
continual (vs. sporadic) -- (occurring without interruption; chiefly restricted to what recurs regularly or frequently in a prolonged and closely spaced series; "the continual banging of the shutters")
       => insistent, repetitive -- (repetitive and persistent; "the bluejay's insistent cry")
       => running (prenominal) -- (continually repeated over a period of time; "a running joke among us")
       => perennial, recurrent, repeated -- (recurring again and again; "perennial efforts to stipulate the requirements")
       => persistent, relentless, unrelenting -- (never-ceasing; "the relentless beat of the drums")
       => recurring, revenant -- (coming back; "a revenant ghost")

Sense 2
continual -- (`continual' (meaning seemingly uninterrupted) is often used interchangeably with `continuous' (meaning without interruption))
       => continuous (vs. discontinuous), uninterrupted -- (continuing in time or space without interruption; "a continuous rearrangement of electrons in the solar atoms results in the emission of light"- James Jeans; "a continuous bout of illness lasting six months"; "lived in continuous fear"; "a continuous row of warehouses"; "a continuous line has no gaps or breaks in it"; "moving midweek holidays to the nearest Monday or Friday allows uninterrupted work weeks")