English Explanatory Dictionary

fitful

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Characterized by fits (convulsions or seizures).
  2. Characterized by sudden bursts of activity with periods of inactivity in between; intermittent, irregular, unsteady.

Pronunciation

/ˈfɪtf(ʊ)l/ /ˈfɪtf(ə)l/ En-us-fitful.ogg

Word forms

fitful more fitful most fitful

Etymology

From fit (“convulsion, seizure; sudden burst of activity”) + -ful (suffix forming adjectives from nouns, with the sense of being full of, tending to, or thoroughly possessing the quality expressed by the noun).

Synonyms

capricious changeable changing erratic shifting spasmodic broken fitful ragged catchy discontinuous intermissive intermittent patchy stop-start

Antonyms

unfitful amaranthine solid ceaseless constant continual continuate continuous dreich endless eternal everlasting extended incessant incessive infinite never-ending nonstop ongoing perpetual persistent relentless steady still termless unbroken unceasing unending unintermitted uninterrupted unremitting lasting permanent successive uniform

Related words

in fits and starts

Derived words

fitfully fitfulness unfitful
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