as in intermittently
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Recent Examples of fitfully
While many talk shows began as fitfully amusing discussions around relevant issues, some soon devolved into sordid and exploitative freak shows that encouraged verbal and physical altercations.
—
Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
The city has been fitfully pursuing plans to renovate the stadium, widely regarded as an architectural and engineering marvel, since the administration of Mayor Tomás Regalado, who left office in 2017.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Now that the bill of losing with no end in sight has come due, the club’s latest rebuilding era has arrived fitfully and — despite Rutherford’s suggestion on Wednesday that the club has been preparing for this moment for two or three years — it’s arrived largely unplanned for.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
The resulting hodge-podge proves only fitfully compelling.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 23 Dec. 2025
The orchestra seemed only fitfully engaged with Dudamel’s direction—a warning sign amid hoopla.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Shamet was fitfully productive when played in meaningful spot minutes during the postseason for New York last year.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
This book is a stylish pastiche, as an unnamed woman fitfully reconstructs herself under the thumb of a strange man.
—Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
The city has been fitfully pursuing plans to renovate the stadium, widely regarded as an architectural and engineering marvel, since the administration of Mayor Tomás Regalado, who left office in 2017.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Now that the bill of losing with no end in sight has come due, the club’s latest rebuilding era has arrived fitfully and — despite Rutherford’s suggestion on Wednesday that the club has been preparing for this moment for two or three years — it’s arrived largely unplanned for.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
The resulting hodge-podge proves only fitfully compelling.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 23 Dec. 2025
The orchestra seemed only fitfully engaged with Dudamel’s direction—a warning sign amid hoopla.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Shamet was fitfully productive when played in meaningful spot minutes during the postseason for New York last year.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
This book is a stylish pastiche, as an unnamed woman fitfully reconstructs herself under the thumb of a strange man.
—Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fitfully
Adverb
-
Calls for Lang to step down intensified since files released on January 30 by the US Department of Justice showed Epstein and Lang corresponding intermittently between 2012 and 2019, when the financier died by suicide in jail.—
Reuters 13 hr ago,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
After 15 days without internet access, civilians were gradually able to reconnect to social media intermittently.—
Molly Hunter,
NBC news,
30 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
During this time, estrogen levels fluctuate unpredictably rather than steadily declining, which can trigger symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats.—
Rachel Murray,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Feb. 2026
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That responsiveness has proven valuable in recent years as inflation has surged and receded unpredictably.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Pine has been chosen, unconsciously or not, by Roper as his heir and executioner.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Stafford played unbelievably, unconsciously, and should win the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award in a week and a half.—
Jourdan Rodrigue,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fitfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fitfully. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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