Definitions
- Describing a sudden and intense attack of symptoms, such as pain, coughing, or seizures. - Referring to a recurring episode of symptoms that come and go in waves. - Talking about a sudden outburst of emotion or behavior, such as anger or laughter.
- Describing something that occurs irregularly or intermittently, with frequent starts and stops. - Referring to a restless or disturbed sleep pattern, with frequent awakenings or interruptions. - Talking about a sporadic or inconsistent effort or performance, such as in work or exercise.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe something that occurs in bursts or episodes.
- 2Both words can refer to physical or emotional symptoms.
- 3Both words suggest irregularity or inconsistency in occurrence or behavior.
What is the difference?
- 1Intensity: Paroxysmal suggests a sudden and intense attack, while fitful implies a less severe and more sporadic occurrence.
- 2Frequency: Fitful implies a more irregular and infrequent occurrence than paroxysmal.
- 3Cause: Paroxysmal is often used to describe medical symptoms, while fitful can refer to a variety of irregular occurrences.
- 4Duration: Paroxysmal episodes are typically shorter in duration than fitful occurrences.
- 5Connotation: Paroxysmal has a more serious and medical connotation, while fitful is more casual and informal.
Remember this!
Paroxysmal and fitful both describe something that occurs in bursts or episodes, but they differ in intensity, frequency, cause, duration, and connotation. Paroxysmal suggests a sudden and intense attack of symptoms, often related to a medical condition, while fitful implies a less severe and more sporadic occurrence, which can refer to a variety of situations.
