Definitions

fits and starts

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aimless adj.
spasmodic adj.
sporadic adj.

ADJECTIVE

aimless

Synonyms

STRONGEST

desultory erratic frivolous haphazard indiscriminate pointless random

WEAK

accidental any which way bits and pieces blind capricious careless casual chance directionless drifting fanciful fickle flighty fortuitous goalless heedless hit-or-miss indecisive irresolute objectless purposeless shiftless stray thoughtless unavailing undirected unguided unplanned unpredictable vagrant wandering wanton wayward

Antonyms

STRONGEST

definite methodical particular sensible specific systematic

WEAK

determined directed goal-oriented motivated pointed purposeful resolute

ADJECTIVE

spasmodic

Synonyms

WEAK

bits and pieces changeable choppy convulsive desultory fitful intermittent irregular jerky on-again-off-again periodic shaky spastic sporadic spotty spurtive uncertain

Antonyms

WEAK

resting uninterrupted

ADJECTIVE

sporadic

Synonyms

STRONGEST

desultory fitful infrequent intermittent irregular isolated occasional random rare scattered spotty

WEAK

bits and pieces few hit-or-miss on-again-off-again scarce seldom semioccasional spasmodic uncommon unfrequent

Antonyms

STRONGEST

common constant even frequent methodical regular systematic usual

WEAK

continuous dependable

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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fits and starts

Since then, Doustdar has been tasked with rebuilding the company — which he is doing, in fits and starts.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026

I am sure of it not because I remember writing this thing in fits and starts throughout Saturday, but because an A.I. detector called Pangram blessed these paragraphs with a “100% Human Written” score.

From Slate ● Aug. 18, 2026

Forward guidance as currently practiced by the Fed evolved in fits and starts, each fit or start motivated by some idiosyncratic event.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026

Breaks in the investigation have come in fits and starts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2026

In the century since the riot, progress has come in fits and starts.

From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield

fits and starts

Example Sentences

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