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
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
These are also machine washable, meaning despite coffee spills and the general wear and tear of a fitful sleeper, these can be properly cleaned in the wash.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 26 Apr. 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
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
These are also machine washable, meaning despite coffee spills and the general wear and tear of a fitful sleeper, these can be properly cleaned in the wash.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 26 Apr. 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
-
Excluding the special cases of meteor showers, a viewer on the ground will see only about five or so sporadic meteors per hour on average, which isn’t terribly many.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
12 June 2026
-
While a bus was lit on fire in Belfast, a police car in the town of Portadown was set ablaze as sporadic pockets of disorder broke out into other parts of Northern Ireland.—
Olivia-Anne Cleary,
Time,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Portable Power Station Deal Summer's here and that means backyard BBQs, camping trips, and the occasional blackout.—
John Mihaly,
PC Magazine,
18 June 2026
-
In Billie’s case, that consists mostly of neighborhood walks and the occasional hiking trail.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
After just under two hours of intermittent rain, the tarp came out and the game was suspended.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
The president and his advisers have repeatedly criticized offshore wind as intermittent, unreliable and unsightly.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
Authorities said that in the days leading up to her disappearance, Moore exhibited behavior that was out of character, including a sudden absence and an abrupt change in social media presence, according to ABC News.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
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His sudden passing has left his wife, Pamela, to raise their two children alone, Melissa Lynch, a family friend wrote in a GoFundMe campaign statement.—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Starter Eric Lauer battles erratic fastball command and early damage yet completes six innings, while the Rays’ Nick Martinez matches him before a bullpen misstep to Rojas decides a tight opener.—
Liana Handler
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
-
Cynthia wants to get down to the bottom of Shamea’s erratic behavior, and the scene plays out like an angsty teen getting sent to the principal’s office.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fitful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fitful. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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