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
After a few years of fitful growth, the Coop was having trouble keeping the store running.
—
The Editors, Curbed, 15 Dec. 2025
Charlotte has had an underwhelming run in 2025-26, thanks in part to the fitful availability of LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
Their father may be a fitful presence at home, but his work already has them under its spell.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2025
China today opened a global summit on women’s rights, a marker of its growing diplomatic ambition as well as its own fitful efforts to strengthen gender equality.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fitful
The Editors, Curbed, 15 Dec. 2025
Charlotte has had an underwhelming run in 2025-26, thanks in part to the fitful availability of LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
Their father may be a fitful presence at home, but his work already has them under its spell.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2025
China today opened a global summit on women’s rights, a marker of its growing diplomatic ambition as well as its own fitful efforts to strengthen gender equality.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fitful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fitful
Adjective
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During Galliano’s tenure, Maison Margiela shows were sporadic.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
10 Feb. 2026
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However, sporadic light supplementation means that adjusting fertilizer use is sensible if plant growth slows.—
Gemma Johnstone,
The Spruce,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Scam centers proliferating as criminal gangs flout laws In Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, a failure to consistently enforce laws against human trafficking, labor abuses and criminal activities have allowed cyber-scam centers to flourish despite occasional crackdowns, the report noted.—
Elaine Kurtenbach,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
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While occasional scooting can happen, recurring episodes usually signal an underlying issue with anal glands.—
Kasey Caminiti,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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How the Study Worked In the study, 72 inactive adults with panic disorder who weren’t taking medications as treatment completed a 12-week program of brief intermittent intense exercise or relaxation training.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
11 Feb. 2026
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Due to its durability and rapid response time, the team expects the technology to be used to stabilize power grids and manage the intermittent output of renewable energy sources.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Instead of analyzing every detail in a scene, the human brain quickly detects sudden motion or change and reacts first.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
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Demand for cross-border relocation, residency planning and citizenship consultancy services is being driven by geopolitical tensions and sudden policy shifts, advisers who work with ultra-high-net-worth clients told CNBC.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Cut Buddy's tariff bills became erratic and exorbitant.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
9 Feb. 2026
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Using Color to Stir Emotion Much of Brontë's original text is unsettling, with the reader never quite knowing what our erratic characters will do next and what will be the consequences of their actions.—
Maddie Topliff,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fitful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fitful. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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