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
Beyond the results and the outcome, given what this team has dealt with and the noise and fitful transformation that was foisted upon the organization as a result of broken internal dynamics earlier this year, it’s been a welcome development to simply watch the Canucks compete as a team again.
—
Thomas Drance, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
In the twentieth century, the Soviet Union viewed China—at least until the Sino-Soviet split of the 1960s—as a poorer cousin, a country to be steered and helped along in its fitful progress toward respectability.
—Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 9 Aug. 2022
These factors occur against the backdrop of fitful wage growth and climbing inflation, with everyday prices for housing, energy and groceries bedeviling Americans.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025
The subway’s recovery from the pandemic has been fitful, a tale of stops and starts.
—Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fitful
Thomas Drance, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
In the twentieth century, the Soviet Union viewed China—at least until the Sino-Soviet split of the 1960s—as a poorer cousin, a country to be steered and helped along in its fitful progress toward respectability.
—Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 9 Aug. 2022
These factors occur against the backdrop of fitful wage growth and climbing inflation, with everyday prices for housing, energy and groceries bedeviling Americans.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025
The subway’s recovery from the pandemic has been fitful, a tale of stops and starts.
—Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fitful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fitful
Adjective
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However, with Brooks Lee, Kody Clemens and Lewis receiving the bulk of the playing time, at-bats became more sporadic for Bride, who only had eight hits in his last 58 at-bats for the Twins.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
30 June 2025
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Coaches and players who had meticulously calibrated fitness programs for 2024 were forced into an extended holding pattern, trying to maintain sharpness through sporadic friendlies and local camps.—
Sindiswa Mabunda,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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Although access is limited, occasional special tours allow visitors to glimpse the staggering quantity of bullion stored below ground.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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Colorado and Arizona State offer little more than an occasional flash.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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That amounts to success through delay—a repeatable outcome, sustained through intermittent precision attacks.—
David A. Deptula,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
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Despite the relentless pre-match hype montages, intermittent deluges of FIFA self-congratulation and the blasting of Robbie Williams’ hilariously self-parodic tournament theme song at half-time.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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Talks with different countries are ongoing, but are subject to sudden changes in direction.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
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Sharif was shaken by the drastic shift in his wife’s priorities, and her sudden dissatisfaction with their life.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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Trump’s erratic approach to trade is converging with other economic and technological policies to undermine the United States’ preeminent role.—
REBECCA LISSNER,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
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The fact that the story works at all despite its bizarre tonal shifts and erratic pacing is a testament to how strong the game’s themes and characterization truly are.—
Hayes Madsen,
Rolling Stone,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fitful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fitful. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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