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
The subway’s recovery from the pandemic has been fitful, a tale of stops and starts.
—
Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for fitful
Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for fitful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fitful
Adjective
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Unfortunately, those days are more sporadic and like Hernandez, resembles little to the player who dragged Milan over the line three years ago to steal an unlikely league title.—
Emmet Gates,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
-
Those moments have grown more sporadic in recent months, with Watkins no longer looked to as Villa’s key source of goals.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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Others that have a small selling history and only a handful of items for sale at a time tend to be occasional sellers and wardrobe clearers.—
Benjamin Voyer,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
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The audience is present in a politely distant but receptive way with shots from the back of their heads and an occasional darkened full-theater shot.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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Residents lack running water, use 5-gallon buckets as toilets and must contend with intermittent electricity and deteriorating homes that expose them to the region’s fierce weather.—
Emily Schwing,
ProPublica,
29 May 2025
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The issues appeared to be largely resolved by around 10 a.m., but some users experienced intermittent issues with the platform until about 11 a.m.—
Erin Doherty,
CNBC,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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The 2014 retirement of Malcolm (who died in 2017) and sudden spring 2016 departure of Johnson due to the risk of complete hearing loss threw shade on the future.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
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As guests hurried into the building to escape the sudden downpour — with a few leaving early, uncertain about how the rest of the day would unfold — Ashley had to think on her feet.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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Similarly, erratic rainfall patterns in India are threatening crop consistency and farmer livelihoods.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
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Minnesota is tough as hell, but the defensive pressure the Thunder bring on every possession will be too much for a Timberwolves offense that can be erratic at times.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fitful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fitful. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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