as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence
a night of fitful sleep did not leave me feeling well rested the next morning
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Recent Examples of fitful
Their father may be a fitful presence at home, but his work already has them under its spell.
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2025
China today opened a global summit on women’s rights, a marker of its growing diplomatic ambition as well as its own fitful efforts to strengthen gender equality.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2025
The trash-bin selection is one of the key steps in the city’s fitful transition to paid trash service, nearly three years after city voters narrowly approved a ballot measure allowing the city to start charging for it after more than a century.
—Sam Schulz, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Sep. 2025
In the same era of fitful decolonization that began in the late Forties, the power of the old masters of the universe grew at a historically unprecedented rate.
—Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fitful
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2025
China today opened a global summit on women’s rights, a marker of its growing diplomatic ambition as well as its own fitful efforts to strengthen gender equality.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2025
The trash-bin selection is one of the key steps in the city’s fitful transition to paid trash service, nearly three years after city voters narrowly approved a ballot measure allowing the city to start charging for it after more than a century.
—Sam Schulz, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Sep. 2025
In the same era of fitful decolonization that began in the late Forties, the power of the old masters of the universe grew at a historically unprecedented rate.
—Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fitful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fitful
Adjective
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The study made a significant contribution, if not clarification, to this academic niche — medieval migration wasn’t seasonal, nor sporadic and intense.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Jan. 2026
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Trying to keep up with tariff news, especially as a consumer who isn't necessarily an expert in economic policy, can feel like dodging sporadic jump scares.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Key Takeaways Your blood pressure is unlikely to be affected by an occasional prime rib dinner.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
15 Jan. 2026
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The austerity gives her plenty of room to writhe, mug, and moan between occasional shots of an inflatable Martian and a tropical-looking Tiffany lamp.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Over the past decade, intermittent mass protests have drawn participants from virtually every socioeconomic class, including ethnic minorities on the periphery of the country, labor movements, women, and bazaaris.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
10 Jan. 2026
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Atkins, keto, South Beach, the Zone, low carb, no carb, ultra-low fat, liquid only, Jillian Michaels, Jane Fonda, Suzanne Somers, full-body HIIT workouts, gym memberships, a YMCA weight coach, DietBet, StepBet, a Mediterranean diet, a vegetarian diet, the raw food diet, intermittent fasting.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Other affected customers, like KHOU meteorologist Pat Calvin, noted how the sudden technological disconnect felt like the return of a bygone era.—
Jonathan Limehouse,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
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No one is going to care about short-term interest rates if the dollar starts tanking or there is a sudden and widespread loss of confidence in the Fed’s ability to maintain inflation low and labor markets stable over the long-term.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Their erratic play continued Sunday night as Moody went 0 for 3 from the field in almost 17 minutes and Podziemski 1 for 4 in 16 minutes while registering a -21.—
Nick Friedell,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
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Trump’s erratic trade policy has also left businesses in a state of paralysis.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fitful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fitful. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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