Synonyms for fitful
- adjective
Most common
All synonyms
Adjective
1. Spasmodic — characterized by sudden bursts of activity with periods of inactivity in between; intermittent, irregular…
spasmodic, desultory, capricious, restless, uncertain, erratic, broken, unsteady, sporadic, changeable, intermittent, inconstant, stop-start, variable, irregular, fickle, stop-and-go, unstable, patchy, impulsive, discontinuous, whimsical
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
Characterized by sudden bursts of activity with periods of inactivity in between; intermittent, irregular, unsteady.
His breathing was fitful.
Related words
- Word family
- fitfully fitfulness
Example sentences
- restless The longer we stayed, the more restless we became.
- capricious Everyone is entitled to be capricious now and then.
- desultory Most of the others also lit their pipes and a desultory conversation ensued.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| fitful | rising | |
| restless | rising | |
| capricious | falling | |
| desultory | steady | |
| spasmodic | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 6 letters
- broken2, fickle2, patchy2
- 7 letters
- erratic3
- 8 letters
- variable4, unstable3, restless2, sporadic3, unsteady3
- 9 letters
- uncertain3, irregular4, impulsive3, whimsical3, spasmodic3, desultory4
- 10 letters
- capricious3, changeable3, inconstant
- 12 letters
- intermittent4
- 13 letters
- discontinuous
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (broken2 = 2 syllables).