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
In the context of their fitful performance levels over the course of 2025-26, neither could feel too aggrieved to have missed out.
—
Rob Tanner,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
As Major League Baseball’s Rays make their latest fitful pursuit to build a new Tampa Bay home, an Orlando group is feverishly working to develop a fanbase, win political support, and perhaps gain a chunk of tourism dollars for a ballpark in the event opportunity comes its way.
—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
That fitful sleep may lack the restorative qualities necessary for recovery.
—
Danielle Wilhour,
The Conversation,
5 May 2026
From the beginning, Rolling Stone had a fitful relationship with the counterculture that birthed it, Richardson reports.
—
James Sullivan,
San Francisco Chronicle,
3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fitful
Rob Tanner,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
As Major League Baseball’s Rays make their latest fitful pursuit to build a new Tampa Bay home, an Orlando group is feverishly working to develop a fanbase, win political support, and perhaps gain a chunk of tourism dollars for a ballpark in the event opportunity comes its way.
—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
That fitful sleep may lack the restorative qualities necessary for recovery.
—
Danielle Wilhour,
The Conversation,
5 May 2026
From the beginning, Rolling Stone had a fitful relationship with the counterculture that birthed it, Richardson reports.
—
James Sullivan,
San Francisco Chronicle,
3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fitful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fitful
Adjective
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Utility Iren was doubling workers' shifts and adding generators to address sporadic power cuts in Turin as the electricity grid came under strain, a spokesperson said.
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While attractive due to its proximity to strong local and regional gas markets, exploration for this gas has been sporadic in the basin since the mid-1980s, with experts noting pilot projects were uneconomic, temporarily abandoned or failed.
Adjective
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Luke Russert joined his father for major political conventions and occasional shows on the road, Fischer Martin said.
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This frequent, high-profile casting strategy, distinct from occasional star cameos, transforms 'Oh, Mary' into a dynamic, high-demand theatrical experience.
Adjective
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Expanding its use displaces coal in Asia and supports the integration of intermittent renewables by providing flexible backup.
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Research has shown, for example, that intermittent fasting may be as effective as low-calorie diets for weight loss.
Adjective
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Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
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Small Holes One sign of snakes in your garden could be the sudden appearance of small holes that could be about the size of a small coin, or up to two inches.
Adjective
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After cycling through erratic gigs—bus driver, garbage collector, violin maker—his carpentry skills landed him a job on an expedition vessel in Antarctica from 2006 to 2010.
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His social media posts became increasingly erratic.
Cite this Entry
“Fitful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fitful. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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