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Definition/Meaning

(adjective)

characterized by instability, irregularity or unsteadiness; spasmodic and sporadic;

e.g. The fitful child never slept through the whole night, always waking up and fussing around after 3 A.M.

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Similar Words

Alternate

Aperiodic

Casual

Catchy

Discontinuous

Episodic

Erratic

Hit-and-miss

Intermittent

Interrupted

Irregular

Noncontinuous

Occasional

Spasmodic

Spastic

Sporadic

Sporadically

Spotty

Unsteady

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Opposite Words

Ceaseless

Changeless

Constant

Continual

Continued

Continuing

Continuous

Continuously

Equable

Even

Habitual

Incessant

Interminable

Methodical

Nonstop

Orderly

Periodic

Perpetual

Regular

Repeated

Running

Stable

Stationary

Steady

Systematic

Unbroken

Unceasing

Unchanging

Uniform

Uninterrupted

Unrelenting

Unremitting

Unvarying

Unwavering

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Related Words

Aimless

Arbitrary

Between

Broken

Bumpy

Capricious

Cataclysmic

Changeable

Changeful

Continual

Convulsive

Desultory

Disconnected

Fickle

Fluctuating

Fluid

Fragmentary

Haphazard

Herky-jerky

Hit-and-miss

Hit-or-miss

Inconstant

Infrequent

Intermittent

Interrupted

Isolated

Jerky

Jouncy

Mercurial

Mutable

Occasional

Odd

On and off

Periodic

Periodical

Random

Rare

Recurrent

Recurring

Rough

Slapdash

Sporadic

Sporadically

Stormy

Stray

Sudden

Temperamental

Tempestuous

Tumultuous

Turbulent

Unpredictable

Unstable

Variable

Violent

Volatile

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