Synonyms of fitful

fitful

adjective

ˈfit-fəl 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sporadic
• occasional
• intermittent
• sudden
• erratic
• unpredictable
• unsteady
• violent
• spasmodic
• discontinuous
• irregular
• casual
• spastic
• episodic
• episodical
• spotty
• aperiodic
• volatile
• choppy
• convulsive
• fragmentary
• random
• catchy
• scattered
• haphazard
• changeful
• aimless
• uncertain
• interrupted
• desultory
• varying
• changing
• broken
• unsettled
• unstable
• capricious
• inconstant
• arbitrary
• odd
• stray
• disconnected
• slapdash
• mercurial
• hit-and-miss
• hit-or-miss
• fluctuating
• variable
• mutable
• temperamental
• fickle
• wavering
• changeable
• flickery
• fluid

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continuous
• constant
• steady
• periodic
• regular
• habitual
• repeated
• stable
• uniform
• even
• stationary
• systematic
• equable
• unchanging
• orderly
• methodical
• changeless
• unrelenting
• unvarying
• unremitting
• unwavering
• methodic

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective fitful contrast with its synonyms?

The words convulsive and spasmodic are common synonyms of fitful. While all three words mean "lacking steadiness or regularity in movement," fitful implies intermittence, a succession of starts and stops or risings and fallings.

fitful sleep

Where would convulsive be a reasonable alternative to fitful?

Although the words convulsive and fitful have much in common, convulsive suggests the breaking of regularity or quiet by uncontrolled movement.

convulsive shocks

How do spasmodic and fitful relate to one another?

Spasmodic adds to fitful the implication of rapid or violent activity alternating with inactivity.

spasmodic growth

Examples of fitful in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There were fitful signs that Democrats were trying to turn the page on Friday. —Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 29 June 2024

Earth’s earliest wildfires may have been fitful and erratic, flickering among the amphibious flora of fens and bogs. —Ferris Jabr, The Atlantic, 25 June 2024

There is a growing sense that endless, sweeping sanctions are inhumane, but progress against them is slow, fitful, and disorganized. —John Ganz, Harper's Magazine, 22 May 2024

Over one fitful night a man is visited by three ghosts that terrorize him into reexamining his life and his entire way of thinking. —Sam Hurwitt, The Mercury News, 2 May 2024