fitful implies intermittence, a succession of starts and stops or risings and fallings.
fitful sleep
spasmodic adds to fitful the implication of rapid or violent activity alternating with inactivity.
spasmodic growth
convulsive suggests the breaking of regularity or quiet by uncontrolled movement.
convulsive shocks
Example Sentences
He made only spasmodic attempts to lose weight. spasmodic problems that we will have to deal with as they crop up
Recent Examples on the WebThe elegant simplicity of that hook is supported by a disturbing internal mythology and an unnerving physical performance from kabuki actress Rie Inoo, who plays a small but memorable role as the film's spasmodic, well-dwelling ghost Sadako. Katie Rife, EW.com, 30 July 2022 The album, due Oct. 28, has the same fury of its predecessor with all the spasmodic, head-turning weirdness Patton fans expect. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2022 Have Donovan Mitchell play like a spasmodic blind man through the first half, relying on Bojan Bogdanovic to save them, to keep them close over that span. Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 17 Apr. 2022 The result of this was a loud blast on the cornet caused by a spasmodic laugh into it. Kori Rumore, chicagotribune.com, 17 Mar. 2022 Hints of the show’s absolutely spasmodic joy are there in the music choices. Hillary Kelly, Vulture, 23 Dec. 2021 This week the passing game remained spasmodic, and West Virginia was able to shut down the running game as well. R.j. Coyle, Dallas News, 25 Sep. 2021 There is no official death toll for the era’s spasmodic violence, which continued through other groups following the Klan’s decline after federal enforcement peaked in 1872. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 11 Aug. 2021 That declaration, combined with his decision to hire four clerks for the next term (suggesting an intention to stay) sent liberals into spasmodic finger-wagging. Kimberley A. Strassel, WSJ, 22 July 2021 See More
Word History
Etymology
New Latin spasmodicus, from Greek spasmōdēs, from spasmos