fitful

[fit-fuhl]

See more synonyms for fitful on Thesaurus.com

adjective

coming, appearing, acting, etc., in fits or by spells; recurring irregularly.

Origin of fitful

First recorded in 1595–1605; fit² + -ful

Related formsfit·ful·ly, adverbfit·ful·ness, noun

Synonyms

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sporadic, intermittent, erratic, haphazard.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for fitful

Contemporary Examples

There have been fitful mutterings about Catalonia, the region of Spain where Barcelona is, seceding from Spain.
Homage to Catalonia
Megan McArdle
December 19, 2012
So squandering away decades of a sterling credit rating over a “contentious and fitful process” will seem petty.
Downgraded For Bad Behavior
John Solomon
August 6, 2011
He made some fitful attempts to calm down a bit, filling modest, collage-like monochromatic surfaces with angular shapes.
Death of a Modernist Master
Simon Schama
July 6, 2011
The stress, compounded by fitful rest and sleepless nights, ages you quickly.
Trust Me, Dominique, Don't Run
Mansfield Frazier
May 18, 2011
Hossein breathed heavily as he fell in and out of a fitful sleep.
When Everything Changed
Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
March 11, 2011

Historical Examples

So we waited, with only a decent pretence of interest in the fitful talk.
In the Valley
Harold Frederic
Twice more in all; but, the last spell of work was feeble and fitful.
A Tale of Two Cities
Charles Dickens
With these gloomy thoughts he fell at last into fitful slumber.
Slaves of Mercury
Nat Schachner
Though he lay down in the entrance and slept, his sleep was fitful.
White Fang
Jack London
Occasionally it was fitful, and when summoned by irony remained at a distance.
A Spirit in Prison
Robert Hichens

British Dictionary definitions for fitful

fitful

adjective

characterized by or occurring in irregular spellsfitful sleep

Derived Formsfitfully, adverbfitfulness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for fitful

adj.

used once by Shakespeare ("Macbeth," 1605) in sense of "characterized by fits," then revived by Scott (1810) with a sense of "shifting, changing." From fit (n.2) + -ful. Related: Fitfully; fitfulness.

fitful

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}fitful

Synonyms

Related Words

Examples from the Web for fitful

Contemporary Examples

There have been fitful mutterings about Catalonia, the region of Spain where Barcelona is, seceding from Spain.

So squandering away decades of a sterling credit rating over a “contentious and fitful process” will seem petty.

He made some fitful attempts to calm down a bit, filling modest, collage-like monochromatic surfaces with angular shapes.

The stress, compounded by fitful rest and sleepless nights, ages you quickly.

Hossein breathed heavily as he fell in and out of a fitful sleep.

Historical Examples

So we waited, with only a decent pretence of interest in the fitful talk.

Twice more in all; but, the last spell of work was feeble and fitful.

With these gloomy thoughts he fell at last into fitful slumber.

Though he lay down in the entrance and slept, his sleep was fitful.

Occasionally it was fitful, and when summoned by irony remained at a distance.

fitful

Word Origin and History for fitful

adj.

Origin of fitful