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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fitful
Some of those effects include— Chronic fatigue and sleep disorders, including difficulty falling asleep, fitful sleep, poor sleep quality.
—
Marie Bladt, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2025
Pyongyang began taking fitful steps toward a nuclear weapon during the Cold War, tested its first bomb in 2006, and today regularly issues nuclear threats against its southern neighbor.
—Robert E. Kelly, Foreign Affairs, 30 Dec. 2024
The window was usually propped open, and, when the music was off, the buzz of distant traffic and a fitful breeze entered.
—Daisy Hildyard, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024
Walkers never have to lug their own suitcases or spend a fitful night on the cold, hard ground.
—Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for fitful
Marie Bladt, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2025
Pyongyang began taking fitful steps toward a nuclear weapon during the Cold War, tested its first bomb in 2006, and today regularly issues nuclear threats against its southern neighbor.
—Robert E. Kelly, Foreign Affairs, 30 Dec. 2024
The window was usually propped open, and, when the music was off, the buzz of distant traffic and a fitful breeze entered.
—Daisy Hildyard, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024
Walkers never have to lug their own suitcases or spend a fitful night on the cold, hard ground.
—Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for fitful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fitful
Adjective
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More recently, the Trump administration’s sporadic tariff changes have made future prices more uncertain, which exposes people to risks.—
Sophie Mitra,
The Conversation,
1 May 2025
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The bench was sporadic during the regular season, and outside of Mitchell Robinson and Cam Payne’s performance in the fourth quarter of Game 1, the bench has been nonexistent this playoffs.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The 31-year-old will provide reliability as a blocker, while serving as an occasional release valve over the middle.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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Consistency turns occasional readers into followers who can predict your stance on related issues.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
According to devotees—especially followers of ketogenic and paleo diets or intermittent fasting—this intriguing combo boosts energy and concentration.—
Alessandra Signorelli,
Vogue,
30 Apr. 2025
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Over time, this loop of expectation and intermittent reward can create addictive behavioral patterns similar to those seen in gambling.—
Ximena Araya-Fischel,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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On April 28th, a sudden frequency drop in Spain’s power grid triggered cascading shutdowns, leaving millions without power.—
Mark Le Dain,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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Then, all of a sudden, one of those teams had one of the top five players in the league fall right in its lap.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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But Trump’s erratic purge of the federal workforce has undermined those very efforts.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
28 Apr. 2025
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In the meantime, crowds braved erratic weather for a festive opening weekend, and even early on a Monday morning, neighbors had already begun to converge, attracted by the new sod, tender trees, and open plaza that makes this 165-year-old wedge of nature look fresh and young again.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
28 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fitful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fitful. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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