spasmodically

[ spaz-mod-ik-lee ]

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.

Other Words From

• un·spas·mod·i·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of spasmodically¹

spasmodic ( def ) + -ally ( def )

Example Sentences

“But the flash happened again, and that’s when I saw where it was coming from. It came spasmodically from a chain of nine circular-shaped aircraft way up from the vicinity of Mount Rainier … I could not find any tails on these things. They didn’t leave a jet trail behind them. I judged their size to be at least 100 feet in diameter.”

From Seattle Times

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

The muscles of his whole body contracted spasmodically and instinctively, the hair on his neck and shoulders stood on end, and with a ferocious snarl he bounded straight up into the blinding day, the snow flying about him in a flashing cloud.

From Literature

I heard the sudden crunch of footsteps on gravel and, hardly aware of what I was doing, turned away spasmodically and pretended to inspect the trunk of a nearby tree.

From Literature

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

Related Words

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