FITFUL Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

fitful

adjective

ˈfit-fəl

Definition of fitful

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of fitful In 2017, Japan reenergized fitful security discussions, including Australia, India and the United States. — Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2026 The effort, which was described by a senior administration official who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly, is unfolding alongside fitful talks between Washington and Tehran on a potential agreement to extend a truce in the Iran war. — Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Fortune, 7 June 2026 As Major League Baseball’s Rays make their latest fitful pursuit to build a new Tampa Bay home, an Orlando group is feverishly working to develop a fanbase, win political support, and perhaps gain a chunk of tourism dollars for a ballpark in the event opportunity comes its way. — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 May 2026 That fitful sleep may lack the restorative qualities necessary for recovery. — Danielle Wilhour, The Conversation, 5 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for fitful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fitful

Adjective

Bahrain and Kuwait, which have continued to face sporadic Iranian attacks, will have the lowest staffing of the Gulf embassies, with three-quarters of Foreign Service members returning.

— Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Attacks on Kenscoff have escalated The first major attack on Kenscoff occurred in January 2025, and since then, there have been sporadic attacks in the mountains surrounding the city center.

— Pierre-Richard Luxama, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of sporadic

Adjective

There are occasional non-permanent exhibitions relating to architecture and design.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026
Their Conan is the host for the Oscars, a podcast host, a voice in Toy Story 5, a world traveler, an occasional actor, and many other things.

— Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of occasional

Adjective

With intermittent rain in the forecast over the next week, some sessions could be rescheduled or delayed for hours, corralling fans and shortening the time players have to recover for their next round.

— Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
The project is designed to turn intermittent solar generation into a more dependable power source.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of intermittent

Adjective

And at the end of it all, a euphoric fan base, tipsy with its sudden reversal of fortune, belted out a 1976 Abba song in South Florida.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
The model is pulled in ten different directions by different internal product teams, resulting in an interface that suffers from sudden behavioral resets and an inability to smoothly execute complex, multi-turn human requests.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of sudden

Adjective

The Salt River's first major dam, Roosevelt Dam, was completed in 1911 in an effort to tame erratic flows and wrangle its water for the nascent farming communities downstream.

— Alex Hager, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
The sibling drama, meanwhile, rather fades out of view amid these loftier goings-on; the film’s narrative begins to feel devised by the old parlor game Consequences, repeatedly wrenched in erratic new directions.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of erratic

Browse Nearby Words

fit

fitful

fitfully

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Fitful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fitful. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of fitful

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inexorable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes