spasmodically

American  

[spaz-mod-ik-lee] / spæzˈmɒd ɪk li /

adverb

1. in sudden, brief, or sporadic bursts.

   The plane engine began to cough and sputter spasmodically.

   Mail arrived only spasmodically, so communication with the outside world was limited.

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Other Word Forms

• unspasmodically adverb

Etymology

Origin of spasmodically

spasmodic ( def. ) + -ally ( def. )

Example Sentences

Paulekas was easy to spot in the crowd of wildly attired, spasmodically gyrating teenagers: He was the old guy in his 50s with the wisps of silver hair, Salvador Dali goatee and white bell bottoms.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2022

He had a habit of gyrating and moving his body spasmodically while performing, and even while being promoted as the “Wonder of the World,” many described him as an “idiot,” even an “imbecile.”

From New York Times • Mar. 3, 2021

The narrative is spasmodically gripping, with Mr le Carré at his old best in full flow.

From Economist • Sep. 7, 2017

That’s the nature of history that we’ve grappled with spasmodically over the centuries.

From Washington Post • Jul. 2, 2015

One of the eyes winked spasmodically at intervals, lending an eerie liveliness to an otherwise motionless countenance.

From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

Related Words

• again and again
• generally
• intermittently
• many times
• often
• periodically
• regularly
• time and again
• usually