What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Intermittent vs Fitful - What's the difference?

intermittent | fitful |

As adjectives the difference between intermittent and fitful

is that intermittent is stopping and starting at intervals; coming after a particular time span; not steady or constant while fitful is irregular; unsteady; characterized by fits.

As a noun intermittent

is an intermittent fever or disease.

intermittent

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Stopping and starting at intervals; coming after a particular time span; not steady or constant
    • The day was cloudy with intermittent rain.
    Intermittent bugs are most difficult to reproduce.
  • (specifically, geology, of a body of water) Existing only for certain seasons; that is, being dry for part of the year.
    • The area has many intermittent lakes and streams.

    Derived terms

    * intermittently

    Related terms

    * inter * inter- * intermittence * intermittency

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (medicine, dated) An intermittent fever or disease.
    • (Dunglison)
    ----

    fitful

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Irregular; unsteady; characterized by fits.
    • His breathing was fitful .
  • *1605 , Shakespeare, Macbeth ,
    • [...] Duncan is in his grave;
    After life's fitful fever he sleeps well;
  • *1851 ,
  • *:The cabin lamp—taking long swings this way and that— was burning fitfully, and casting fitful shadows upon the old man’s bolted door [...]
  • *2012 , The Economist, The economy: Don’t say “green shoots”
  • *:So fitful has Britain’s economy been that any good news is understandably snatched at.

    • Derived terms

    * fitfully * fitfulness